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LONDON Birkbeck during World War One The Lord Mayor on the College and the City Digital Dickens The Renaissance in the capital

BIRKBECK’S MAGAZINE REVIEW 2014 Issue 33 bbk.ac.uk Contents A celebration of London life in 2013 of University Square Stratford. The £33m campus is contributing to the further regeneration of an area transformed by the Olympics, and our presence in east London has led to an exciting corporate partnership p45 with ArcelorMittal. The steel and mining company behind the distinctive ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture is funding scholarships at Birkbeck (pp8-9). Drawing on material from Birkbeck’s archives, an article about World War One Our year “”Birkbeck was Research and teaching Our community “”If my donation (pp48-49) demonstrates the resilience shortlisted for can make a of the College and its community during the Times little difference, The marriage between Birkbeck and tough times. Staff assisted and taught 4 Master’s report Higher 40 our students bring comfort London is strong and successful. In good Belgian refugees in London, while Professor David Latchman Education or simply times and in bad, from boom time to other Birkbeckians gained battlefield 42 new Fellows 6 From crisis to modelling the future magazine’s peace of mind, wartime, the College and the capital have honours from fighting overseas. Other Professor Laurel Brake, Mary of higher education prestigious and help one remained loyal to each other and have articles encourage you to engage with Curnock Cook OBE, Professor Philip Birkbeck’s 3-year degrees go from University of more Birkbeck thrived. 2014 was no exception as our our research, including looking for the Year 2014 Dewe, Sir Alan Langlands, student to reach staff, students and alumni worked with everyday clues to life in seventeenth- strength to strength John McDonnell award, and our graduation, organisations and individuals across the century London (pp26-27), and reading 8 Corporate partnerships fund students voted MP, Peter Westley I will feel scholarships and transform lives metropolis to support George Birkbeck’s the online serialisation of Our Mutual us number one 44 Research into privileged. ideals and advance evening higher Friend by Charles Dickens (pp30-31). Focus on corporate philanthropy for student eating disorders p52 education for busy Londoners. For these The Lord Mayor of London, who is also 10 Lord Mayor of London satisfaction in in people with reasons, and because 85% of our students the Vice-President of Birkbeck, discusses London. type 1 diabetes 11 education on the high street p26 p32 are Londoners, it seems appropriate to the College’s role in the capital and his Inspiring communities to learn p4 Life for Jacqueline dedicate this issue of BBK to London – own role as “salesman for the City” (p10). Allan has been Birkbeck’s home, one of our greatest Moreover, Claude Moraes, alumnus and p15 transformed by assets, and one of the greatest cities in Labour MEP for London, describes how Birkbeck the world. Our connections with the studying at Birkbeck has helped shape 45 Building, baking and Birkbeck p44 history and future of London life resonate his political career (p46). The Great British Bake Off’s throughout these pages. As ever, BBK celebrates the Richard Burr From its beginnings at the Crown and achievements of our community. Articles Anchor Tavern on the Strand in 1823, about our students, staff, Fellows and 46 From politics at Birkbeck to the heart of the College has only moved alumni make for inspiring reading, and are policy-making in Brussels a couple of miles and has never left the the lifeblood of the magazine. They led to Labour MEP Claude Moraes capital. The London Mechanics’ Institute, BBK issue 31 winning a 2014 Silver Circle of 47 The long view: reminiscing about as Birkbeck was known in those days, Excellence Award in the annual magazine university life since the 1950s was based at Southampton Buildings category of an international competition p30 p23 Professor Michael Wise CBE MC looks in Chancery Lane from 1825. Breams organised by the Council for the back at a lifetime of teaching and Buildings in Fetter Lane was the home Advancement and Support of Education. research in London of the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific If you would like to share your story or 12 Awards and recognitions 22 Birkbeck celebrates 30 digital Dickens Institution from 1885, and in 1952 thoughts about the magazine, please do research success 48 Birkbeck during the Great War 14 Man Booker at Birkbeck Recreating the original Dickensian Birkbeck College moved to Malet Street. get in touch. Research with impact reading experience The resilience of Birkbeckians during Birkbeck’s reach has also expanded Hilary Mantel World War One eastwards recently thanks to the opening Guy Collender, Editor 23 Flying fish fertilise forest 32 The history of energy 15 Alumni talk sport in Asia Dust from ancient fish skeletons is Managing energy shortages in 50 Obituaries Birkbeck visits Seoul and Tokyo key to rainforest growth Britain, Japan and Germany Professor Patrick McAuslan and Stay connected 16 events on campus Professor Sir Graham Hills are 24 new professors 34 Law enforcement and the global among the Birkbeck staff and Let us know your thoughts 18 Passing on the Birkbeck baton HIV epidemic Fellows remembered on the latest BBK via email, 25 teaching excellence Birkbeck alumni share their How the School of Law has post or Twitter (use #BBKMag) p16 2014 Birkbeck Excellence in 52 Why I give knowledge and expertise contributed to an international Teaching Awards policing consultation on public Hedge fund manager Visit us online Blogs 20 From classroom to workplace Geraldine Sundstrom 26 Commuting through health and human rights bbk.ac.uk blogs.bbk.ac.uk New initiatives are underway to the Renaissance 53 Birkbeck in numbers boost our students’ employability 36 What the thunder said The everyday clues to London’s Twitter Podcasts even further Theatre gives psychologists insights 54 The last word Renaissance history into children’s responses to @BirkbeckNews bbk.ac.uk/ 21 Chair of Mary Curnock Cook OBE, birkbeckvoices 28 Innovative technologies for community violence and bullying Governors Chief Executive of UCAS learning and teaching 37 Au pairing in the UK p7 Facebook Research enhances education Greater protection for au pairs BirkbeckUniversity in schools 38 Birkbeck books p54 ofLondon

2 3 Birkbeck was shortlisted for the T“”imes Higher Education magazine’s prestigious Master’s University of the Year 2014 award, and our students voted us number one for student satisfaction in London in the National report Student Survey.

numbers means that students who could culmination of years of hard work. grants (see pp 12–13). In addition, Professor David Latchman CBE benefit from part-time study at Birkbeck Following rigorous internal (and in £600,000 of funding was received from are not taking up the opportunity of some cases external) assessment, the Wellcome Trust for Birkbeck to invest doing so. The College remains committed more than 80% of Birkbeck’s eligible in strategic areas of importance and in he academic year 2013–2014 This focused way of learning attracts to such potential part-time students academics (that’s over 350 people) public understanding of research. witnessed the blossoming of a special type of student: one who and was one of the main supporters of were included in the REF submission These are exciting times for Tmany initiatives at Birkbeck, and is dedicated to their studies and Part-Time Matters, a national campaign, made at the end of November 2013. Birkbeck, especially as there are many was an important year for both student determined to improve themselves. backed by an alliance of universities, The College is also taking action opportunities to work in London with recruitment and research. That’s why studying at Birkbeck is both business and unions, to promote the to support the next generation of like-minded partners to realise the Our achievements, especially the intense and enjoyable – and why it benefits of part-time study. researchers. Last year, Birkbeck benefits of higher education. In 2016, growth of our three-year undergraduate changes people’s lives. As well as attracting students because awarded 22 Anniversary Scholarships The Guardian will launch Guardian degrees taught in the evenings, were The year 2013–2014 also marked a of its evening teaching, Birkbeck’s to support PhD students, and a Space and reopen the Midland Goods widely recognised. Birkbeck was turning point in the College’s finances research-intensive environment is vital further round of College-funded PhD Shed at London King’s Cross as a hub shortlisted for the Times Higher as, for the first time, more tuition fee for student recruitment, particularly at studentships will open for applications for events, activities and courses, with Education magazine’s prestigious income was received from three-year postgraduate level. The College’s REF shortly, this time with a particular Birkbeck as a key educational partner in University of the Year 2014 award, and undergraduate students (£7.52m) results, released in December 2014, were emphasis on interdisciplinary and this initiative. our students voted us number one for than from part-time students studying admirable. Birkbeck performed very well collaborative themes. The last two centuries have been student satisfaction in London in the over four years or more (£5.16m). REF in a number of subject areas, particularly Birkbeck’s researchers gained eventful for Birkbeck and I have no doubt National Student Survey. This development is significant, as Research Psychological Sciences, rated fifth in the many accolades in 2013–2014 for that our future will be as challenging The strength of Birkbeck’s research was student fees and student recruitment- Excellence UK, and Earth Sciences and Biosciences, their contributions to generating new and rewarding as our past. The year 2015 Framework also applauded, and the College achieved related funding generate 70% of 2014 rated sixth and 11th respectively. This knowledge, and the College has secured brings with it the removal of government impressive results in the Research Birkbeck’s income. recognition from academic peers is the many prestigious and valuable research controls on the number of full-time Excellence Framework (REF) – an audit The rise of three-year degrees has undergraduate students we can admit of the quality of research carried out in more than compensated for the decline and the first cohort of new graduates the UK higher education sector. Above in part-time student numbers at with £27,000 of tuition fee debt, who will all, while foresight and innovation Birkbeck. Part-time student be looking for cost-effective methods of continue to drive the College’s strategy numbers have declined by postgraduate study. to adapt to the ever-changing higher 45% at Birkbeck since the Beyond 2015, plans are already afoot education sector, Birkbeck remains government’s withdrawal for our 200th anniversary in 2023. There true to its original mission of providing of funding and the threefold are many ways in which moving towards evening university education for increase in tuition fees our third century may act as a catalyst for working Londoners. in 2012. From being the a range of interesting initiatives. In the Recent increases in student recruitment institution in England most years ahead, Birkbeck will remain ready remain central to Birkbeck’s successes. negatively affected by the to respond to the new opportunities and Our intensive three-year undergraduate major sector-wide changes challenges that are certain to appear in degrees, offered through UCAS, continue in 2012 to becoming the evolving higher education landscape. to thrive, with enrolments rising by an the institution with impressive 335% between 2011–2012 and the biggest growth in 2013–2014. The trend is also encouraging UCAS recruitment for postgraduate recruitment, as in 2013, Birkbeck Top right: A PhD student at a Birkbeck applications and enrolments are up has experienced graduation ceremony Right: Artist’s impression of The Guardian’s new significantly after a difficult couple a remarkable Midland Goods Shed (Bennett Associates) of years. There is soaring demand for transformation. Left: Some of the recipients of Anniversary combining evening studies with work, However, the fall in Scholarships. Left to right: Isabella Nizza, family and other commitments. part-time student Dionysios Mitropoulos and Michael Boampong

4 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 5 benefits of our unique approach are institution has weathered a crisis and widely recognised by both our students worked out how to survive Birkbeck gives you that edge. From crisis to modelling the and their employers. Increasingly we’re and thrive with our “” seeing students of all ages and levels mission intact and our Michael Peltier, 22 (left), chose of experience wanting to benefit from future secure.” Birkbeck’s three-year degree in BSc future of higher education flexible study which enables them to Accounting because he wanted to kick- build their professional experience start his career by working and studying alongside academic study. We expect at the same time. He is successfully challenging period. The College has also In August 2014, the College was to see numbers on these courses combining his evening studies with Birkbeck’s three-year demonstrated that it remains true to shortlisted for the prestigious Times continue to grow.” daytime work at a hedge fund and is degrees go from strength its mission to make higher education Higher Education magazine’s University As the number of students completing eager to graduate as soon as possible. accessible to all those who can benefit of the Year 2014 award, in recognition degrees in the same timeframe as full- He said: “I am already seeing the to strength from its transformative power: 56% of of the success of the College’s response time students increases, the College has fantastic benefits of studying and the three-year students are from a black to the fall in part-time numbers. The continued to highlight the importance working simultaneously, and this or minority ethnic background, 42% are College’s award entry highlighted of part-time study and the fact that, intensive approach will help me in the in receipt of financial support and, while the fact that not only have three-year across England, numbers have fallen job market in future. Many of my friends Birkbeck’s three-year intensive an unprecedented 30% are now school intensive evening degrees saved the drastically. The courses most affected are struggling to find good jobs, but I undergraduate degree programmes, leavers, 70% are still mature learners. College, but their success and popularity appear to have been short, entry-level know I will not be in that position. When which have been offered at the College Tricia King, Pro-Vice-Master Strategic at Birkbeck could lead to changes across undergraduate courses, which often I graduate, I’ll have great prospects ahead since 2010, have shown strong growth Engagement and Recruitment and the higher education sector as other served as a route into higher education of me, with an internationally recognised for the fourth consecutive year. The Director of External Relations, said: institutions seek ways to provide the for the least confident students, who degree, a job in my chosen field, and three-year degrees offer students the “When considering how to respond flexibility that today’s students want. would be unlikely to enter university via three years of valuable and relevant opportunity to graduate in the same to the challenge we faced in 2012, the The 2013–2014 undergraduate cohort other routes. These programmes enable experience from the workplace. It’s very timeframe as those at traditional College never lost sight of our original saw 60% of students on three-year students to build intellectual confidence competitive out there, and Birkbeck gives daytime universities, but with the mission of making higher education programmes, as opposed to just 5% and work towards undertaking a full you that edge on graduation.” distinct advantage that they can accessible to everyone who can benefit in 2011. This represents a 1200% increase degree. A Birkbeck briefing document combine their study with work and from it. We’re extremely proud that as in the number of students choosing to highlighting the importance of these internships. Since 2012, when tuition our student numbers grow, we’re still study in this intensive mode, thanks to an courses was sent to policy-makers and fees were increased due to the removal attracting non-traditional students in increase in the number of programmes politicians in June 2014. of government funding, the numbers of large numbers, and are able to offer offered over three years from 5 to 46. In King concluded: “We are delighted part-time students on Birkbeck’s four- them the flexibility, study support and 2015, over 70 undergraduate degrees will that Birkbeck’s three-year programmes year courses have fallen dramatically, financial support that they require to be offered in the three-year format. have proved so popular, particularly with and the intensive programmes have succeed and to transform their lives Isabelle Portier, Birkbeck’s Head of non-traditional students. Once enabled the College to survive this through higher education.” Marketing and Recruitment, said: “The again this unique and remarkable

6 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 7 Main image: The distinctive 114.5m high ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, east London (ArcelorMittal Orbit stock) Three major corporate partnerships“” Corporate Below: Marit Stromberg, who was awarded the Good are underway and more corporate Energy PhD studentship partnerships are expected to be partnerships fund signed in the coming months. scholarships and transform lives

A new focus on corporate philanthropy is leading to a win-win are committed to widening access to higher education in east London and the partnership situation for students, Birkbeck and major companies complements their existing projects in this part of the capital. Birkbeck is playing its part by providing evening study opportunities to meet the Things happen when universities and businesses is progressing with her work, particularly her growing aspirations of the people of east London combine forces. Expertise, resources and ideas research into the best renewable ‘mix’ and how at University Square Stratford – its £33m state- are shared, research is generated, and innovative solar and wind power can make a substantial of-the-art campus shared with the University solutions and new companies are formed. For contribution to our overall energy needs. Good of East London in Stratford. ArcelorMittal is example, the internet giant Google began life as a Energy has always believed that renewables also contributing to regeneration in the area research project at Stanford University, and many offer a better long-term solution to our energy via a range of local community initiatives and other technology companies, including Hewlett- requirements, and Marit’s research will help us the distinctive 114.5m high ArcelorMittal Orbit Packard and Yahoo, can trace their roots back identify the most effective type of wind and solar sculpture (pictured), designed by Anish Kapoor to the same university campus. Closer to home, developments.” and Cecil Balmond in the Queen Elizabeth some 1,500 companies, including spinouts (based Olympic Park. on intellectual property produced in universities) Santander scholarships and travel bursaries ArcelorMittal’s three-year gift to Birkbeck is and start-ups (created by university staff and Scholarships are also at the heart of Birkbeck’s paying for four undergraduate student bursaries, recent graduates), have emerged from UK other corporate agreements. Santander – one tuition fees for one postgraduate student, universities and research institutes since 2000, of the world’s biggest banks – has committed and support for a student researching a PhD according to The Spinouts UK Survey. nearly £150,000 to Birkbeck by 2017 to fund in crystallography – the study of atomic and Birkbeck is no stranger to working with scholarships and travel bursaries as part of its molecular structures. To qualify for the support, business, and staff have recently intensified Santander Universities initiative, which supports the students have to live in east London and their their efforts to work with firms to generate new higher education at more than 1,100 institutions household income must be less than £25,000. research and support students. Three major across the globe. Ian Louden, Head of Brand at ArcelorMittal, schemes are underway (see below) and more The first Santander scholars – all from South said: “We want the striking ArcelorMittal corporate partnerships are expected to be America – began their studies at Birkbeck Orbit to be seen not just as a memory of an signed in the coming months. in autumn 2014. Michael Losada, from amazing Olympic Games but also as a beacon Colombia, is studying for an MSc in Marketing for the regeneration of east London which Good Energy PhD studentship: Communications. For the past seven years he has was an inherent part of London’s bid to the researching renewable energy worked at the Colombian Coffee International Olympic Committee. Our support One recent leading collaboration involves Growers Federation. Mr Losada for low-income, locally based students at the Birkbeck and Good Energy – the 100% said: “Receiving the Santander Stratford campus of Birkbeck is part of our renewable electricity supplier. As part of a Scholarship – as well as being a community engagement programme focused four-year initiative, Good Energy is funding a really big help financially – on this regeneration objective.” PhD studentship to address some of the most is an acknowledgement of The partnership with ArcelorMittal also pressing environmental issues of the day. my commitment to working extends beyond financial support. Birkbeck will Marit Stromberg (pictured right) was selected towards improving the lives host an event at the prestigious ArcelorMittal for the studentship and began her research at of coffee producers. It is really Orbit to promote its three-year undergraduate the College in autumn 2013. She is now important to me that my aim degrees, all taught in the evenings, to leaders analysing the potential of solar and wind and plans in this area have been from local schools and further education colleges resources to meet future rising energy demands acknowledged in this way.” in spring 2015. Corporate partnerships have at an EU level as part of her studies in the a promising future at Birkbeck. In the years Department of Geography, Environment ArcelorMittal: widening access ahead, sponsored students will generate their and Development Studies. to higher education own research and develop their own ideas, and Juliet Davenport OBE, who is the CEO and Another major donation to synergies between the College and companies founder of Good Energy, is enthusiastic about Birkbeck in the last year has are destined to grow and prosper. this pioneering partnership between industry been received from ArcelorMittal and her alma mater, where she studied for an – the world’s leading steel Listen to podcast interviews with Ian Louden MSc in Economics (1992–1994). The Birkbeck and mining company. Both and the ArcelorMittal scholarship students at: alumna said: “It’s great to hear how far Marit the College and the company www.bbk.ac.uk/birkbeckvoices/episode27

8 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 9 “”Making sure that we have Education on the high street The Lord Mayor world-class education providers like Birkbeck is essential to the long-term of the City of London success of the UK.

What is the role of Birkbeck in a few. There is also an extensive domestic the capital? schedule set up as well, where I will be By providing opportunities to study visiting a number of towns and cities for students from diverse social and across the UK, including Manchester, educational backgrounds, Birkbeck Liverpool, Bournemouth, Edinburgh offers an inclusive and challenging and Glasgow. environment for those wanting to learn and acquire new skills. In fact I am What are you most looking forward to particularly keen on Birkbeck since your during your year as Lord Mayor? From our first Pop-Up University to discounts for trade Master, Professor David Latchman CBE, As the 687th person to hold the advises the City of London Corporation position of Lord Mayor of the City, I will unionists, Birkbeck is inspiring communities to learn on the fantastic Mansion House be following a long and illustrious list Scholarship scheme, which supports of predecessors. Being part of that overseas students studying at British tradition and history is something I universities. will really enjoy. In 1823, Dr George Birkbeck founded the about London’s housing crisis (led by Dr With my background in investment London Mechanics’ Institute (which later Paul Watt), and talks referring to local Given your distinguished career banking I’m also looking forward to became Birkbeck) to educate working history, including one (led by Dr Alex at Kleinwort Benson and your taking on the role of salesman for the people. His radical initiative enabled Colas) on the Great Grunwick Strike chairmanship of prominent financial City. I will look to do all I can to help artisans and craftsmen to learn about of 1976–1978, which started in a film organisations, including the London the world’s leading financial district science, art and economics. Today, processing plant in Willesden. In total, 650 Investment Banking Association, go from strength to strength. Birkbeck remains true to its original people registered for the events and many what advice would you give to But I also want to make this the year mission, and many projects are underway more visited to learn about Birkbeck. students planning to establish of the volunteer: celebrating the City to encourage hard-to-reach groups to This success was repeated in summer careers in the City? workers who create wealth, give time think about studying at university. 2014, as the Pop-Up University moved for My advice would be to throw yourself and support people. In addition, being three weeks to Leytonstone Library, in into whatever area of work you have an able to support two charities close Pop-Up University partnership with Waltham Forest Borough interest in, meet as many new people to my and my family’s heart – Scope Birkbeck’s Pop-Up University activities Council. In 2015, the Pop-Up University as possible and bring an infectious and Mencap – is something that I am exemplify the College’s commitment will take up residence in Enfield from enthusiasm with you every day. Those thrilled about. They will be the main to attracting new students. Drawing April to June as part of a collaboration with attributes, combined with hard work and beneficiaries of my Appeal and I have a inspiration from the trend for short-term Enfield Council and local colleges. dedication, will mean students see first- jam-packed programme of events and pop-up retail spaces, Birkbeck decided Annette McCone, Widening Access hand how the City offers up so many opportunities to help raise funds. My to set up shop in north-west London. Manager at Birkbeck, said: “The Pop-Up The Lord Mayor of London automatically possibilities and opportunities. hope is that we raise over £1.5m for this Willesden Green was chosen as a suitable University concept is really working. It is The new Lord Mayor becomes the Vice-President of Birkbeck year’s Appeal, which is an ambitious location, because of the high numbers of a powerful way of introducing the passion of the City of London, during his or her one-year term of office. Could you please summarise the role but achievable target. Birkbeck alumni living in the area (769 and expertise of Birkbeck’s academics In November 2014, Alan Yarrow – a of the Lord Mayor? alumni live in postcode areas NW2, NW6 to local residents and it is helping to Alan Yarrow, talks to distinguished financier and alderman – My role is to act as an ambassador for the What is your favourite aspect of the and NW10), and because deprivation transform futures. We have also learnt a became the Lord Mayor of London. He City and promote it as the leading financial Lord Mayor’s show? levels in the London Borough of Brent are great deal about how to target hard-to- BBK about the Square told BBK what Birkbeck means to him, centre in the world. I champion not just The show has often been described as among the highest in the country. Only reach groups, which can be challenging.” and also explained his role as “salesman the Square Mile, but the whole of UK the oldest street party in the world and 33% of the local population have a degree Mile and being the Vice- for the City”. plc, as the number one destination to do being able to soak up the atmosphere or a higher-level qualification. Working with the trade unions President of Birkbeck business. I am able to pull the right people and lead what is a real spectacle is a As part of the collaboration with the The year 2014 was also significant for What is your reaction to becoming into the right meetings – presidents, prime real privilege. However, the one area Willesden Green Town Team, a shop in outreach work because it saw the renewal Vice-President of Birkbeck? ministers, governors of central banks and that I am incredibly proud of is how Queens Parade, NW2, was transformed of a three-year agreement between I am honoured to be taking up the position finance ministers. the whole day comes together through into a drop-in centre and classroom. Birkbeck and the trade unions. of Vice-President at Birkbeck. The greatest the hard work and enthusiasm of the During its three-month existence in As part of the agreement, Birkbeck assets that we have in the City, and wider Travel is an integral part of your role 7,000 volunteers who help make the spring 2014, some 35 Birkbeck academics and unionlearn – the learning and skills London, are the very people who work as the global ambassador for the City. day special. They are the true stars of delivered 80 talks and workshops at the organisation of the TUC – are working and live here. Making sure that we have What are your travel plans for 2015? the show and the ones who make it the Left: The Mayor of Pop-Up University. Each week the events together to champion higher education. world-class education providers, like I’m going to spend around 100 days success that it is. London (© City of covered a different theme, including This includes a 10% discount on tuition London Corporation) Birkbeck, offering opportunities for people overseas, so it is going to be a busy time. Above, right: The community, technology, science, money fees for trade unionists studying for new to challenge themselves in an intellectually This will take in India, China, the Gulf, For more information about The Lord Mayor Pop-Up University and politics. Popular sessions included qualifications. Discounts worth nearly demanding environment is essential to the South America, South East Asia, and of the City of London, visit: in Willesden Green workshops about happiness and well- £400,000 have been claimed over the long-term success of the UK. Central and South America to name but www.cityoflondon.gov.uk (Xavier Inverarity) being (led by David Tross), a discussion last three years.

10 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 11 Awards& recognitions

Recognitions Right: Private space The contribution and impact of Birkbeck academics shuttle (iStockphoto) Birkbeck Fellow Michael Slater and Below: Dr Sanjib have been recognised by major grants and by College alumna Cleo Blackman were Bhakta each awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Below, right: national and international academic institutions Birthday Honours List. One of the Tricia King world’s most highly regarded Dickens scholars, Professor Slater, Emeritus Professor in the Department of English Awards during the Cold War. The project will Left: The Wellcome and Humanities, was recognised for Birkbeck’s pioneering and innovative explore the history of ideas about mind Trust in central his services to literary scholarship. approach to combining work and study control, indoctrination and psychological London (Wellcome Cleo Blackman, who graduated from Images) has been recognised with a £1.47m award warfare from the 1950s to the fall of the Below: Dr Angelica Birkbeck’s MSc Development Studies from the Higher Education Funding Berlin Wall. Ronald in 2011, received her award for services Council for England’s Catalyst Fund. The social, political and cultural Right: The Houses to development in Helmand Province, The award will enable the College to realities of the UK’s major monotheistic of Parliament As Britain heads towards its next Afghanistan. develop new, flexible undergraduate faiths will be analysed in a research general election, Dr Rosie Campbell, Joanna Bourke, Professor of History, and postgraduate courses, which project funded by a £300,000 gift Department of Politics, will be conducting and College Orator since 2012, has been acknowledge the challenges of from The Exilarch’s Foundation. a comprehensive survey of the attitudes, elected a Fellow of the British Academy combining intensive evening study with Led by Stephen Frosh, Pro-Vice- backgrounds and experiences of the in recognition of her outstanding daytime work, caring for a family or Master Research and Professor of parliamentary candidates. Dr Campbell historical research. Lecturer in History and Gender Studies, of Law, has been awarded the 2014 other commitments. Further College- Psychology in the Department of will be principal investigator, working The Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize for lifetime by the Higher Education Academy James Boyd White Award for lifelong wide strategic development will be Psychosocial Studies, the three- with the British Election Study contribution to political studies has in recognition of his championing of contribution to scholarship by the enabled by a grant of up to £600,000 year study will also explore how and researchers from six other UK been awarded to Joni Lovenduski, student-led learning. Association for the Study of Law, from the Wellcome Trust’s Institutional adolescents engage with Judaism, universities, on the Representative Audit Anniversary Professor in the The European Space Agency Culture and the Humanities. Strategic Support Fund. Christianity and Islam. of Britain, a £500,000 project funded Department of Politics, by the (ESA) has appointed Ian Crawford, Tricia King (below), Pro-Vice-Master The Wellcome Trust has also awarded Professor Ulrike Hahn, by the Economic and Social Research Political Studies Association. Also in Professor of Planetary Science and Strategic Engagement and Recruitment, £900,000 to Daniel Pick, Professor of Department of Psychological Council. the Department of Politics, Deborah Astrobiology, to its Human Spaceflight has been awarded a Distinguished History, for a study into the role of the Sciences, has won the €250,000 The Janet Taylor Spence Award Mabbett, Professor of Public and Exploration Science Advisory Service award by the Council for the clinical professions in ‘brainwashing’ Alexander von Humboldt for Transformative Early Career Policy, has been appointed co- Committee, the senior ESA advisory Advancement and Support of Education. Foundation Anneliese Maier Contributions has been awarded to editor of The Political Quarterly body on the scientific exploitation of Research Award, in recognition Dr Angelica Ronald (left), Department magazine, the first woman to its spaceflight programmes. of her research into the of Psychological Sciences, by the hold this position. Literary prizes won by academics in the decision-making and language- Association for Psychological Science for A lifetime’s contribution to Department of English and Humanities learning aspects of human her research into the causes of autism literary and cultural studies in 2014 include the Prix du Roman Fnac cognition. and autistic traits. has been recognised by the by Senior Lecturer Benjamin Wood for Le Funded by the Wellcome A prestigious Distinguished Fellowship election of Isobel Armstrong, Complexe d’Eden Bellwether, the French Trust Investigator Award, Dr in Pharmaceutical Sciences has Professor Emerita of English, translation of his novel The Bellwether Jessica Reinisch, Department been awarded by Cipla, the global to the prestigious American Revivals. Dr Gillian Woods won the of History, Classics and pharmaceutical company, to Dr Sanjib Academy of Arts and Sciences. Shakespeare’s Globe Book Award for Archaeology, will lead a four- Bhakta (right), Reader in Molecular Professor Armstrong taught her book Shakespeare’s Unreformed year project, ‘The Reluctant Microbiology, Department of Biological at Birkbeck from 1989 to 2002, Fictions, while Colin Teevan and Hannah Internationalists’, on the history Sciences and Institute of Structural publishing widely on nineteenth- Silva won the Tinniswood Radio Drama of international collaborations and Molecular Biology, for his research century studies. Award for Best Radio Drama Script, for driven by concerns about public on tackling antibiotic resistance A National Teaching Fellowship has their radio play Marathon Tales. health crises. in tuberculosis. been awarded to Dr Matt Cook, Senior Professor Costas Douzinas, School

12 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 13 Booker Talking sport at popular Prize-winner alumni reunions in Asia Meeting alumni and tackling the subject of the English Hilary Mantel Premier League’s business model were both on the discusses agenda for Birkbeck staff during a 10-day visit

Birkbeck staff forged links and FA (based near the demilitarised zone her art strengthened connections with separating North and South Korea) and universities, sporting organisations and the K-League, and Birkbeck staff also alumni in South Korea and Japan during visited Seoul National University and a busy tour in spring 2014. The series of Ewha Womans University – the world’s events showcased Birkbeck’s strengths largest women’s university. in Sport Management and International The next stop was Tokyo, where a Business, highlighted the skills and reception was held for alumni, including knowledge of alumni to employers, and married couple Shinsuke Itagaki and also revealed the deep affection shown by Yumi Itagaki, who first met when alumni for their alma mater. they were studying at Birkbeck in The plan for the activities emerged from 2007. In Japan, Birkbeck staff also met Birkbeck’s excellent reputation in South prospective students and spoke to agents Korea and Japan. A total of 142 students working to recruit students. from these countries have studied at Mr Hamil said: “There is deep affection Birkbeck in the last 18 years, and there for Birkbeck among our alumni in South is a particularly dedicated following for Korea and Japan. They really appreciate Sport Management programmes, with Birkbeck’s heritage, the support shown 23 students graduating since 2004. A by our staff, and the intellectual freedom sporting theme was selected for the and diversity associated with studying sessions during the international trip. in London. It was a real pleasure to meet Publishing sensation speaks about her Sean Hamil, Director of Birkbeck’s my former students again and I was Sport Business Centre, spoke about overwhelmed by the hospitality we were award-winning fiction at the fourth the economic, sporting and cultural shown during the trip.” phenomenon of the English Premier The tour was organised by the Man Booker at Birkbeck event League at an event at the British Department of Management, the Council’s offices in Seoul. He showed International Office, and the Development how the K-League – the top football and Alumni Team. In addition to Mr league in South Korea – can learn lessons Hamil, Birkbeck’s Tricia King, Pro- Intrigue and politicking in the Tudor Cromwell’s place of birth, that she and power, although Boleyn is hungry voice, consciousness and worldview of from the successes of the business and Vice-Master Strategic Engagement court were discussed during a lively and accessed his voice and interiority and for status while Cromwell focuses on the a character is accessed, putting Mantel broadcasting models developed by the and Recruitment, Matt Dean, Head wide-ranging conversation between composed the novel’s opening line, acquisition of power. Ultimately, their ‘right there in the scene’. The novels English Premier League, which competes of Marketing and Recruitment Birkbeck’s Professor of Creative Writing “So now get up”. Mantel delighted the entwined rise to prominence unravels have been duly praised for their vitality, in South Korea for broadcasting slots (International), and Luisa Barbaro, Alumni Russell Celyn Jones and novelist Hilary audience by revealing that the eagerly and is replaced by a fierce, and ultimately suspense and the thrilling sense that with elite domestic sports. Engagement Manager, all took part. Mantel. Mantel discussed her Booker awaited third novel, The Mirror and the bloody, enmity. history is still unfolding, demonstrating At another event in Seoul, alumni Birkbeck would like to thank the alumni Prize winning novel, Bring up the Light, will close with Cromwell similarly Mantel was unwilling to concede to the Mantel’s extraordinary talent for spoke about building careers in sport. from South Korea and Japan for their help Bodies (2012), at the event organised felled, awaiting the executioner’s axe. commonplace that the historical novel, historical ventriloquism. Alumni arranged the visits to the Korean and wonderful support during the visits. by Birkbeck and the Booker Prize Wolf Hall covers Cromwell’s rise under long a critically disdained genre, reflects This was the fourth Man Booker Foundation. This is the second book in an Thomas Wolsey, his orchestration of the present more than the past. Although event at Birkbeck – previous speakers unfinished trilogy about the rise and fall Henry’s divorce of Catherine of Aragon accepting that ‘every novel is written include Sarah Waters, Kazuo Ishiguro of Henry VIII’s shadowy chief minister and subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn out of the sensibility of its time’, she also and Alan Hollinghurst – and follows Thomas Cromwell, who clambered from in 1533. Bring up the Bodies opens with keenly emphasised her efforts to enter Mantel’s Orwell lecture at Birkbeck in obscure origins to become one of the Cromwell ascendant and charts the and engage with the consciousness of 2009. Both the Booker Prize Foundation most powerful men in Tudor England. collapse of Henry’s marriage to Anne people who lived 500 years ago, stressing and Birkbeck share a commitment to Wolf Hall (2009), the first book and Boleyn, her usurpation by Jane Seymour, that these historical figures were ‘whole bringing the highest intellectual and Right (from l-r): also the recipient of the Booker Prize, and Cromwell’s coolly legalistic and and entire’ and not ‘pallid rehearsals’ of cultural achievements to the widest Jaehyun Kim, GSM memorably opens with the young ultimately brutal machinations to oust our modern selves. possible audience and this enlivening Co Ltd; Gi Heon An, Cromwell reeling from an assault by Boleyn at the king’s behest, which The audience, which included students exchange further cemented this General Secretary, his brutal father. From this startling culminated in her beheading in 1536. At on Birkbeck’s successful Creative successful and rewarding partnership. the Korean Football opening onwards, the world of the the event at Friends’ House in December Writing programmes, enjoyed Mantel’s Association; Tricia Above, right: Hilary King; Sean Hamil; Tudors is mediated through Cromwell’s 2014, Mantel discussed how Boleyn and frankness about her working process, To watch a video of Hilary Mantel’s Mantel at the Man Shin Tae-Yong, Pro- consciousness. Mantel discussed how Booker at Birkbeck Cromwell warily recognise their similarly which involves the creation of ‘scenes’ appearance at December’s Man Booker at motion Ambassador the novels gestated for about thirty event in December precarious positions as social climbers in built on meticulous research and a Birkbeck event, visit www.bbk.ac.uk/news/ of the K-League years, but it was during a visit to Putney, 2014 a world delineated by inherited wealth less mechanical process whereby the manbooker (Junekyu Choi)

14 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 15 Events on campus

medallist, who identified key factors in uncover state crimes and mass violence, included Dr Atsushi Senju speaking From an Olympian sport and their application to business; deaths in custody, and the role of experts. on the importance of face-to-face giving business advice Neale Coleman CBE, deputy chair The School’s Annual Law Lecture in communication for babies, Dr Iroise of the London Legacy Development October 2013 was another highlight in the Dumontheil on mindfulness meditation, to scientists marking the Corporation, who reflected on the calendar. Angela Davis – the renowned Dr Martin Ingrouille on the evolutionary legacy of 2012; and David Bernstein American political activist and academic secrets of garden plants, Professor Hilary Year of Crystallography, CBE, former chairman of the Football – spoke about the freedom struggle, Downes on asteroids and the Earth, Association, who highlighted challenges including the emancipation proclamation, and Professor Rick Cooper on routine fascinating events on governance-related issues in football. the civil rights movement, and the murder behaviour. have attracted packed Around 800 visitors attended the of Stephen Lawrence. Her lecture attracted The week, which ran from 28 June to thought-provoking events, where 800 attendees. Birkbeck’s Visiting 4 July, began with SciScreen, organised they were also able to enjoy Brazilian Professor Michael Mansfield QC responded in association with Science London, audiences throughout Far left: Playwright music and Brazilian-themed hospitality David Eldridge to her address and chaired the question with three films looking at science from the year arranged for Business Week. Left: Adrian and answer session. different perspectives, including the Moorhouse MBE at science behind special effects in film. Law on Trial Business Week Science Week Scientific evidence was the theme for Above: Molecule Science Week 2014 was packed with To watch events from Science Week 2014 Arts Week Law on Trial 2014, which took place image used to innovative activities, including lab visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/science/about-us/ Arts Week 2014, which ran from 19-23 from 16-20 June. The School of Law’s promote Science tours, a session about writing for a events/science-week Week 2014 May, included nearly 40 performances, Professor Renata Salecl began the series Below: A portrait non-scientific audience, and one-to- workshops, tours, readings, lectures of events with a lecture about the of Professor Eric one advice about careers in science. Social Sciences Week and panel discussions and, as usual, was A panel discussion on writing new A number of Arts Week events were captured interplay between law, neuroscience and Hobsbawm, painted There was a significant focus on Politics, the environment and the highly popular with alumni, current plays for the Shakespearean stage drew on podcasts and blogs, which can be psychoanalysis. in 1955 by Peter crystallography (the study of atomic concept of change were all under students and arts enthusiasts. on the expertise of Birkbeck creative accessed at www.bbk.ac.uk/artsweek2014 Throughout the week, academics from de Francia, was and molecular structures), as 2014 was discussion from 16–19 June during Social The week opened with a panel writing lecturer and playwright David Arts Week 2015 will run from 18-22 May. Birkbeck and other universities joined legal unveiled at Birkbeck the International Year of Crystallography. Sciences Week 2014. The week provided discussion on clouds as objects, metaphor Eldridge (below left) (whose latest play More information will be made available at: practitioners to discuss the use of scientific in November 2014. Emeritus Professors Paul Barnes and an opportunity for members of the public The picture is on and phenomena, considering these Holy Warriors was performed at the www.bbk.ac.uk/artsweek evidence in legal scenarios. Subjects loan to the College David Moss spoke about the past and to engage with diverse and thought- ephemeral bodies in contexts ranging Globe last summer) and Shakespeare scrutinised included evidence in rape from Hobsbawm’s future of the subject. provoking topics. from eighteenth-century meteorology scholar Gillian Woods (whose book Business Week cases, the use of new technologies (such daughter, Julia Other topics discussed by academics The programme of events drew on and Romantic poetry to nuclear Shakespeare’s Unreformed Fictions won Business Week 2014, which ran from as satellite imaging and DNA analysis) to Hobsbawm. from Birkbeck’s School of Science the wide-ranging and exciting research mushrooms and cloud computing. the Shakespeare’s Globe Book Award in 23-26 June, coincided with the FIFA being undertaken by scholars within A group of undergraduate August 2014). World Cup and drew inspiration from the Birkbeck’s School of Social Sciences, students presented an installation Also drawing on the links between world’s greatest football tournament. History and Philosophy, and also version of their play The Acts Birkbeck and London’s cultural The theme for the series of public events featured high-profile external speakers. Between, which explores the institutions, Dr Sarah Thomas gave a was From London to Rio: The business The week included: a talk on “Hobsbawm themes of mental health and the lecture on the role to be played by art in and politics of mega sport events. the Communist” with Professor Sir passing of time, responding to confronting Britain’s troubling imperial Leaders from the worlds of business Richard Evans (University of Cambridge); the spaces within Birkbeck’s past, based on her experience of working and sport explored the legacy of London a discussion of politics and photography School of Arts and on a major Tate Britain exhibition – ‘Art 2012 and the impact of the World Cup with Martin Argles (former photographer making links to the and Empire’ – planned for 2015. in Brazil. Keynote speakers included: for The Guardian) and Birkbeck’s building’s history Events focusing on London past Richard Ayers, founder and CEO of Department of Politics’ first writer-in- and former and present included a debate digital media firm Seven League, residence, documentary photographer inhabitants, about whether London had its who discussed the impact of digital and poet Carlos Reyes Manzo; and a panel including own Renaissance (see feature on technology; Adrian Moorhouse MBE discussion on the concept of change in Virginia Woolf. pp 26–27). (above), swimmer and Olympic gold different disciplinary contexts.

16 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 17 This one-to-one bespoke“” approach, particularly with prospective students, is incredibly popular.

volunteering on working with current be really clear about what they want to Left: Trainer work in change management and wanted knowledge and gain new skills. I hope students, or they only interact with get out of it, and explain that the mentor Stephanie Peckham to be a mentor because I like the idea of the mentoring will clarify what I want applicants at open days,” said Luisa is not there to give the mentee a job. Below: Mentors helping people recognise what they really and give me time to think about the and mentees at Barbaro, Birkbeck’s Alumni Engagement “When training the mentors, we want, challenging their mindsets and way my career can develop in London. the Business at Manager. “This one-to-one bespoke talk about the difference between Birkbeck reception making the most of new opportunities.” Talking to a person experienced in my approach, particularly with prospective mentoring and coaching, and we model in November 2014 His mentee this year is Joel Armando, field here in London will be a fantastic students, is incredibly popular.” conversations to help them deal with who recently moved to London from opportunity.” Birkbeck alumni are also enthusiastic certain situations. We make the point her native Argentina and is studying volunteers for the ‘Business at Birkbeck’ that they are there to listen and ask for a Master’s in Learning Technologies. ‘Get Talking’ and ‘Business at Birkbeck’ mentoring programme, a partnership questions – not just talk about how great Joel said: “I have worked in learning are two examples of how alumni can get between the College, the East London their university experience was! Both technologies in my university role involved and volunteer at Birkbeck. To find Business Alliance and a number of sides find the training really useful – and in Argentina, but I am new to the out more, or to offer your assistance, visit: London companies. It pairs final-year we get great feedback at the end of the industry here and looking to deepen my www.bbk.ac.uk/alumni/help undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well.” students in the School of Business, Birkbeck alumnus Rick Payne is a Economics and Informatics and the first-time mentor with the Business at School of Law with alumni from Birkbeck scheme. A qualified chartered those industries and with Birkbeck’s accountant now working in management corporate volunteers at Credit Suisse and research at the Institute of Chartered PricewaterhouseCoopers. Accountants in England and Wales, The programme recognises that he completed an MSc in Organizational Birkbeck students are typically older and Behaviour at Birkbeck in 2008. many have aspirations to work in the He said: “I’d been to a few alumni Birkbeck alumni understand just how corporate world. While some students events, and when I heard about the challenging it can be to combine evening simply want guidance about CVs and mentoring schemes I thought this would Passing on study with a demanding working day interview skills, others are keen to take be a good way to give something back. I or busy family life. It’s because of this advantage of the opportunity provided believe lifelong learning is fundamentally that so many of them become involved by Birkbeck to network and to learn from important, and that Birkbeck is one of the Birkbeck in Birkbeck’s innovative, and rapidly working professionals already employed the few places, in my view, that really growing, mentoring programmes in these environments in a capital city as delivers on this. offered to applicants and current vibrant and international as London. “I am also a qualified coach, although students at the College. Some 15% of the 50,000 alumni on I don’t practise any more, so this is an baton One such initiative, now in its third Birkbeck’s database have offered some ideal opportunity to keep those skills year, is the ‘Get Talking’ programme. sort of assistance to the College, a figure fresh. My mentee has already sent me Alumni are paired with prospective far higher than the average for the her objectives, so I’m looking forward to students – people who want to talk to university sector. “This means we have getting started. She is also a coach, so our others who have studied at Birkbeck, a fantastic pool of graduates to call on. similar backgrounds may make for some ideally on the same course or in the same Birkbeck alumni are so passionate about interesting dynamics! Birkbeck alumni are sharing their academic department. The pairs meet their experience, they want to give “Doing my MSc at Birkbeck gave me for an informal coffee and chat over the something back,” Luisa Barbaro added. the research bug, and changed my knowledge and expertise in a range of summer months, before the applicant Both alumni mentors and mentees career, so I really wanted to give back to commits to enrolling on a course. The are given training before their sessions the College in whatever ways I could.” innovative mentoring programmes programme has had a success rate of start, to help them make the most of the Giles Forrest works for Credit Suisse 75% enrolments for the last two years. programme. Trainer Stephanie Peckham and is now in his second year as a “Many universities focus their alumni explained: “We encourage the mentees to Business at Birkbeck mentor. He said: “I

18 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 19 Chair of Governors

Talent, to receive a shortlist of candidates specifically selected for their role. Harvey McGrath Students register their CV, interests and employment preferences and then apply for roles via an online portal. If students are unsuccessful at application or hanging policies and pressures interested in working with the College Carbon Management Plan is now in interview, Birkbeck Talent will provide within the higher education sector and our student body to further place to help guide our carbon reduction constructive feedback. The overall goal Chave led Birkbeck to refocus some Birkbeck’s unique mission. efforts. The plan sets out initiatives that of the scheme is to help students to gain activities and to embark on new areas As ever, student support is the focus will reduce the environmental impact valuable employment experience, while over recent years. of many donors’ generosity, with a of our operations and planned growth, also providing employers with an easy For the first time in 2014 our new noticeable emphasis on postgraduate and will help deliver a 10% reduction in and effective way to source talented three-year undergraduate programmes study, where there is very limited carbon emissions from the current levels students and graduates. recruited more students than our external funding available. The majority by 2020-2021. Eleanor Martin is the Recruitment traditional four-year degrees. We have of donations come from alumni, who Via our environmental programme Manager at Birkbeck Talent. She said: also intensified our work with corporate also contribute their time, knowledge ‘the Greenthing’, we are mobilising “Students and employers are really partners to finance scholarships and and expertise. the Birkbeck community to make enthusiastic about the scheme. Many capital projects, and develop mentoring The number of alumni involved small changes that together will make students are keen to enhance their career programmes. As the first wave of in mentoring and volunteering a big difference to reducing our carbon by working full-time while they study. undergraduates to have studied under programmes has nearly doubled in footprint. Employers are keen to recruit Birkbeck the post-2012 funding regime graduate the last year. Over 300 prospective, In September 2014 we renewed our Above: Commuters students, because they recognise the in 2015 with significant tuition fee debt, current and international students have Fairtrade Accreditation for another at London’s Kings Cross station wealth of skills, motivation and talent Birkbeck is paying particular attention to benefited from these initiatives with a two years. From classroom (iStockphoto) within our student body.” ensuring that our postgraduate offering tangible impact on student retention and The activities of Birkbeck Talent are is made as accessible and as appealing as recruitment (as seen on pp18-19). Outlook also being complemented by various possible to this cohort. During the coming year we will to workplace initiatives run by Birkbeck’s Careers College finances continue to focus our attention on and Employability Service, which is Development and alumni relations The College’s total income was working with partners and donors, open to both students and alumni. Our fundraising team continues to £101,463,000, an increase of 5.4% on to ensure that we are able to offer Free workshops at Birkbeck, one-to- generate support to assist students in the previous year, thanks to continuing our students the support they need one appointments, and online tools financial need and to facilitate cross- strong growth of student numbers at to succeed in their education and offering everything from CV advice College projects. £1.1m was raised in both undergraduate and postgraduate to develop the skills that employers Our students thrive in the workplace and now to an interview simulator tool, as well 2013-2014 from over 1,800 donors, level. A focus on strong financial require, through our undergraduate new initiatives are underway to boost their as industry reports and resources, are with gifts ranging from £5 to £148,000. management has resulted in a surplus and growing postgraduate scholarship available. A dedicated employability The 1823 Circle, which was established of over 6.5%, which combined with the provision, as well as opportunities employability even further advisor is also based in the employability in 2012, now has 23 donors each surplus from the previous three years to network with professionals and space within the Student Centre. A new making annual gifts of between leaves the College with an increase in employers through networking service tailored to the needs of alumni, £5,000 and £25,000. cash and current investments of over and other programmes. called GradCare, will be launched in 2015. The College has developed new £22.2m over the same period. The College The College’s strong financial Birkbeck’s students are made of sterner driven by their desire to change career, Mosh Aboobaker, Careers and corporate partnerships with now has a sound financial basis on which position, successful student recruitment stuff than your average undergraduate and they appreciate advice geared Employability Manager at Birkbeck, said: Santander, ArcelorMittal and it can plan and build for the future. strategies and forward-thinking or postgraduate. Their ability to combine towards helping them on their journey. “Whether it is online or face-to-face, we PricewaterhouseCoopers (see also leadership mean I am confident that evening study with work and/or These interests, of both students and offer a range of resources to boost your pp8–9). Their involvement brings Green agenda we will be able to make the most of the family commitments is proof of their employers, are being advanced thanks to career. We know building your career is rewards that go beyond the financial, We continue our partnership with opportunities that present themselves dedication, and employers value this a range of exciting new projects a constant process, so we are very willing and we anticipate this area continuing to other Bloomsbury colleges to improve in this continuously changing perseverance. at Birkbeck. to work with alumni as well as current grow as companies become increasingly environmental performance. A new environment. So it is no surprise that after they finish Birkbeck has recently launched its students.” studying, Birkbeck’s students have the own specialist recruitment consultancy, highest average graduate salary in the Birkbeck Talent. The service is designed For more information about Birkbeck’s UK of £29,432 according to FindTheBest. to match students and graduates with Careers and Employability Service, visit: co.uk, and that 88% of them are working leading employers, who are eager to tap www.bbk.ac.uk/careers The number of alumni involved“” or are engaged in further study according into the university’s pool of talented to the Destination of Leavers from Higher students. For more information about Birkbeck Talent, in mentoring and volunteering Education survey. Employers can register their full-time visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/careers/birkbeck- programmes has nearly Birkbeck’s students are also often and part-time vacancies with Birkbeck talent doubled in the last year.

20 OUR YEAR OUR YEAR 21 Birkbeck celebrates REF Research Excellence Framework research success 2014

the quality of research across the results showed the relevance of the A major audit of the UK’s universities – show that College’s research to many aspects of UK’s research confirms 73% of Birkbeck’s research is rated our everyday lives, whether influencing ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally policy-makers in their thinking about Birkbeck as a leading excellent’ – the top two categories. early years education; working with Of the 14 subject areas that Art, history major companies such as Proctor & research-intensive Birkbeck submitted to the REF, half and culture Gamble to educate parents about their were rated in the top 20 nationally. child’s development; or trialling new university Birkbeck’s science submissions drugs for the treatment of cancer. In performed exceptionally well, three subject areas – History; Art and with Psychological Sciences rated Design; and Psychology, Psychiatry 5th in the UK and the College’s and Neuroscience – 100% of Birkbeck’s Birkbeck has been ranked 30th in the two joint submissions with UCL – submissions received the highest ratings UK for its research by the Times Higher Earth Systems and Environmental for impact. Education following the publication of Sciences, and Biological Sciences – Learning, education Professor Stephen Frosh, Pro-Vice- the 2014 Research Excellence Framework rated 6th and 11th respectively. and development Master Research, said: “Birkbeck’s (REF) results in December 2014. This In keeping with the rest of the results show the enormous amount of places the College above Russell Group sector, our research was found to hard work that has gone on in recent institutions such as Cardiff, Leeds, have improved significantly since years by our academics. At a time of Liverpool, Queen Mary, Sheffield the last such research assessment turmoil in the higher education system, Above: Sub-fossil and York. in 2008, when 56% of our research they have continued to produce top- Scientists have known for some time that said: “Phosphorous occurs in dust in skeleton of a 1.15m The results of the REF – an audit of was rated in the top two categories. quality research. This also reflects the long Nile Perch dust created in the Bodélé Depression in many different forms, some of which are This sector-wide improvement College’s research strategy, which is Flying preserved within the Sahara is picked up by winds, carried more soluble than others, and therefore partly reflects the strategic decision Conservation and deeply committed to creating the best diatomite on the across the Atlantic and deposited on the are more readily available to plants. by many universities to submit heritage possible conditions for academics to be floor of palaeolake Amazon rainforest, where it plays an Previously we didn’t know whether only their most research-active active in research and to pursue their Mega Chad important role in fertilising the plants the phosphorous in the Bodélé dust was fish (Charlie Bristow) academics for assessment. Birkbeck own intellectual interests. and trees. In 2014, new research led by from inorganic and less soluble sources, submitted 83% of eligible staff “As well as celebrating the outstanding Birkbeck and involving colleagues from or from organic sources. This study to the 2014 REF, well above the performance of some of our top the University of Leeds and Diamond helps explain why the Bodélé dust is so national average. This led to the disciplines, it is pleasing that new areas fertilise Light Source showed that the reason important to rainforest growth.” College’s strong performance such as Sociology and our reconfigured the dust is so effective at fertilising the Phosphorous from biogenic sources in league tables which take into Modern Languages group did well, Amazon is that it contains fish bone – a (such as fish bone) is more soluble than account the percentage of staff, Science and reflecting the College’s ability to build forest rich source of phosphorous, which is an inorganic sources (such as in rock). rather than just the overall biomedicine new research areas over time.” essential nutrient for photosynthesis. This means that the biogenic sources grade point average of research, During 2014 the College redeveloped However, this phosphorous-rich dust are readily available to plants, whereas submitted. Our outstanding its website research pages to showcase is a finite resource, which will not be inorganic sources will take longer to be subjects in the Times Higher the broad scope of our research and its Windblown from Africa available to the rainforest indefinitely. dissolved and utilised. Education’s ‘research-intensity’ impact under six themes (shown left): The researchers analysed dust samples A paper based on this research, league tables (published 1 January arts, history and culture; conservation to the Amazon, dust from taken from the Bodélé Depression in published in September 2014 in 2015) include Law, ranked 6th and heritage; learning, education and Chad, in north-central Africa, which is the journal Chemical Geology, also overall (putting it among the top development; politics, society and the ancient fish skeletons is the world’s largest single source of dust. highlighted the fact that the top layers 10 law schools alongside the LSE, Politics, society law; science and biomedicine; and work Thousands of years ago the area was of the Bodélé Depression, which contain UCL, Oxford and Cambridge) and and the law and the economy. key to rainforest growth what is known as a mega-lake – covering the biogenic phosphorous and are the History, ranked 7th. Nationally, the main purpose of the an estimated 1,000,000km2 – but over source of the dust, will eventually be Similarly, the College performed REF is to determine the bulk of research the last 10,000 years the lake has dried fully eroded. strongly in league tables based funding which each UK university will up. The skeletons of the fish and other Professor Hudson-Edwards said: “At simply on the percentage of receive between 2015 and 2021. Funding organisms that lived in the lake still the moment we don’t know how long research judged to be ‘world- decisions based on the REF results will be remain in the top level of dust in the the Bodélé Depression will continue to OF STAFF SUBMITTED leading’, indicating the very high announced in spring 2015. lake bed. provide phosphorous to the Amazon. TO THE quality of much of our research. Professor Karen Hudson-Edwards With the rainforest already under threat The 2014 REF put a new emphasis Work and the Read more about research at Birkbeck at (see p24), from Birkbeck’s Department from human activity, we now hope to 83% REF on universities demonstrating the economy www.bbk.ac.uk/research and listen to a of Earth and Planetary Sciences, who led conduct further research to ascertain impact of their research beyond podcast with Professor Frosh at bbk.ac.uk/ the study, has explained why the source when this important source of fertiliser academia. Birkbeck’s strong birkbeckvoices/episode28 of the phosphorous is so significant. She will run out.”

22 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 23 Caroline Humfress Teaching New Professor of History Before moving to Birkbeck in 2004, Caroline Humfress was Assistant Professor of Rhetoric excellence and Law at the University of California, Berkeley professors and prior to that a research fellow at the University of Oxford. Since October 2012 she has been Assistant Dean for Postgraduate Research Five members of Birkbeck staff Students in the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy at Birkbeck. Her research were promoted to the post of explores the fundamental question ‘What is the “state” and how might it – or how should Professor in 2013–2014 it – relate to law and religion?’, with particular reference to the Roman Empire.

Inspiring and innovative teaching are the hallmarks of the winners of the 2014 Birkbeck Excellence in Teaching Awards

Dr Frederic Dick (above), Reader experience is really important to in Cognitive Neuroscience in the this course.” Department of Psychological Sciences, and Dr Amber Jacobs, Lecturer in the Video essays Department of Psychosocial Studies, have Dr Jacobs said: “My research and both been recognised this year for their teaching focus on the feminist analysis contributions to teaching at Birkbeck. of cultural production, ranging from Richard Cooper Karen Hudson-Edwards Carolyn Moores Nikolaus Wachsmann literary and philosophical texts to Professor of Cognitive Science Professor of Environmental Professor of Structural Biology Professor of Modern European History Very interactive classes visual cultures. Professor Cooper’s research is concerned with Geochemistry and Mineralogy Professor Moores’ research focuses on the Professor Wachsmann specialises in the history of Dr Dick teaches the Plasticity, “In my recent Master’s course in Visual the cognitive processes underlying the control of Professor Hudson-Edwards studies the cytoskeleton – the skeleton-like structures discipline and punishment in modern Germany, Constraint, Expertise and Talent module Culture, I introduced the ‘audiovisual thought and action. He combines computational processes and products of the biogeochemical found inside all cells. The cytoskeleton is with a focus on policing, law, terror and resistance of the Psychology BSc or MSc. He was essay’ as a process of getting inside the and empirical methods to address questions cycling of contaminants and nutrients in mine essential in providing shape and organisation to in the Third Reich. Before joining Birkbeck in nominated for a Birkbeck Excellence in visual object and experimenting with such as how we are able to do multiple tasks wastes, waters, dusts and contaminated land cells and acting as a track for molecular motors 2005, he was a research fellow at Downing Teaching Award (BETA) for his innovative the specific visual medium, using simple concurrently, what constraints there may (see also p23). She is particularly interested transporting cargo within cells. The Moores College, University of Cambridge, and a lecturer work and his commitment to making this software such as iMovie or the be on these due to cognitive limitations, in how minerals dissolve in the presence and Group takes pictures of individual cytoskeleton at the University of Sheffield. He is director of challenging subject matter accessible to a Windows equivalent. and how these processes may break down absence of bacteria and organic materials, and filaments using an electron microscope, then doctoral students in the Department of History, diverse group of learners. “Students were asked to make video following brain injury. how toxic elements are released during this analyses these pictures computationally Classics and Archaeology and teaches BA and He said: “The module looks at how the essays as a practice-based response to In 2011, he co-authored a major monograph, process. Her team is using this knowledge to to calculate the three-dimensional shape MA modules. His first book, Hitler’s Prisons: brain adapts to optimise learning and the films, photographs and theoretical The Organisation of Mind, which was awarded inform remediation schemes and to protect of cytoskeleton filaments. Studying the Legal Terror in Nazi Germany (Yale), was widely skill acquisition. The aim is for students to texts that were set. After one practical a British Academy Medal in 2013. In 2015, he humans and ecosystems. Professor Hudson- cytoskeleton helps us to understand both how translated and was joint winner of the 2005 understand the science of how and why workshop, almost all students produced will take up the role of Executive Editor of Edwards has recently conducted work in healthy cells work and how malfunctions of Longman-History Today Book of it is that some people become experts in ambitious video essays. the international journal Cognitive Science, Australia, Bolivia, Cyprus, Spain and Pakistan. the cytoskeleton cause disease. Accordingly, the Year award. He has since different fields, such as music, sport or “Many students expressed how the having previously been associate editor on the Group’s research involves aspects of brain published extensively on In the chess. They also get to understand how process gave them deeper insight into the three cognitive science journals. He serves development, cancer and malaria. modern German history current academic this can be directly applied to their ‘constructed-ness’ of the film image, as on the programme committee for the annual Professor Moores also acts as Academic and has directed a major year, Marina Warner, own studies. well as achieving new digital skills and conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Co-ordinator for doctoral programmes in the Arts and Humanities Professor of English and “The class is very interactive: the confidence as image makers. Feedback having been co-chair in 2012. Institute of Structural Molecular Biology and Research Council Creative Writing, has joined students learn about each other’s skills consistently referred to the ‘inspiring is involved in the Athena Scientific Women’s research project at the Department of English and as well as learning new methods in experience’ of making the video essay Academic Network project. Birkbeck on the Humanities in the School of Arts, areas such as functional magnetic and watching other people’s, and how early Nazi camp and Jacqueline Rose has joined resonance imaging. this process of getting inside the visual system. Professor the Birkbeck Institute for the “The BETA is a nice affirmation of my medium transformed their approach Wachsmann’s Humanities as Professor teaching. I particularly enjoy the diverse to visual culture, making them more general history of the of Humanities. nature of the teaching group; as mature politically and critically aware about the concentration camps will be students, they are frequently experts ways in which images are constructed published in spring 2015. in their own fields. A student’s past and manipulated.”

24 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 25 Rubens’ ceiling must have“” been Commuting among Charles I’s last sights on earth as he was led out of a window in his beloved banqueting house to be through the beheaded on a wooden scaffold. Renaissance

id London have a Renaissance, and how and cheerful but also chilly. When James VI Anyone who travels by bus down Upper Street Avenue, where street names, waterworks and complex where they located in 1617 when Professor Sue can we tell? Surprisingly, some of the and I arrived from Edinburgh, he restarted the will pass a statue of Hugh Myddleton – the a late seventeenth-century room still mark its James VI and I finally granted them guild status. Wiseman points Devidence for answering this question building project in the present location and, after architect of the New River. London’s massive terminus. The best way to see the New River Although the original hall was destroyed in the is available to Londoners even on our way to a fire in 1619, the structure we have today was expansion in the later sixteenth century had today is to take the train to Broxbourne and Great Fire of 1666, these premises are perhaps out the everyday work. There is quite a lot of seventeenth-century erected on the south-west of the palace area. The left the water supply in a parlous and unhealthy walk its banks and those of the River Lea. the closest thing London has to an original clues to our city’s London around us. building was conceived by Inigo Jones, bringing condition. Throughout the 1590s the City Cheam, in south London, is also worth a trip to guildhall, described by London’s chronicler Those who travel from the west up Whitehall his interests in current Italian architecture, and explored the possibility of digging a canal to the look at the Lumley tombs and explore the site of John Strype as having “a fair pair of Gates” and Renaissance history pass through the palace of Henry VIII, inhabited completed in 1633, well over budget at £14,940. springs of Hertfordshire and work was started Henry VIII’s magnificent palace of Nonsuch. On a courtyard “handsomely paved with broad after him by Elizabeth I, James VI and I, Charles I Once Charles I had commissioned, shipped and in 1604 by Edward Colthurst. When Colthurst certain days you can visit the Lumley tombs in a Stones”. As you stand in the courtyard of the and the later Stuarts. It is possible to roughly installed a huge ceiling painting by Rubens’ ran into financial trouble, Hugh Myddleton chapel in the churchyard of St Dunstan’s. In the apothecaries, somewhere close by was the hall map the area covered by that palace using masques were again banished to a wooden used his position as a goldsmith, merchant and 1590s Lord John Lumley, a Roman Catholic peer in which plays were staged in two different a map from the period known as the Agas structure lest the torches damage or even ignite powerbroker in the City to finish the job - and who had also held Nonsuch Palace, set aside the theatres. Once we realise how close together the map in combination with physical markers. Rubens’ rich vision of the union of the Scottish take the credit. The wood-lined New River is a chapel for himself and his wife. The three tombs stage and the potions were, Blackfriars plays like The Banqueting House on Whitehall was and English crowns. However, another kind of delicate feat of engineering, which still brings contain Lord John himself, his first wife, the The Knight of the Burning Pestle, with its many built to house the celebrations, receptions of conflagration consumed Charles’ government. water from Hertfordshire to London. It is, renownedly learned writer and translator, jokes about grocers and apothecaries (just think ambassadors and plays that were an important Indeed, Rubens’ ceiling must have been among indeed, a river not a canal, using a gradient to Jane, and his second wife, Elizabeth, who about the title), seem to have newly concrete part of the Renaissance monarch’s magnificence. his last sights on earth, for on 30 January 1649 bring water into London. The New River was outlived him. implications. Together, text and buildings allow Below: The North Prospect of London taken from the Bowling Green at Islington, by Thomas Bowles, The first banqueting house was built by Henry he was led out of a window in his beloved declared open by the Lord Mayor with a pageant Finally, the traveller from the east moves us to think again about the spaces of the past. c. 1740. New River Head, centre-left, Upper Pond VIII, and Elizabeth I followed up with a series of banqueting house to be beheaded on a wooden written by Thomas Middleton (no relation) along the path of Roman routes to and through in foreground (London Metropolitan Archives, temporary structures including one ‘made of scaffold. It is said that the window through celebrating the arrival of London’s newly clean London. The Apothecaries’ Hall is just south of Sue Wiseman is Professor of Seventeenth-Century City of London (COLLAGE 27623)) great masts’, with painted canvas walls – cheap which he went is blocked up. water. The river ended at the top of Rosebery St Paul’s, in the middle of the Blackfriars Literature at Birkbeck.

26 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 27 26 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 27 Main image: Girl looking at laptop, by Tim Platt (Photonica/Getty Images) This work was pioneering“” as it REFResearch provides intelligent support to Excellence Framework both students and teachers during 2014 constructionist learning activities.

here are many pedagogical benefits MiGen to articulate and share that practice with others. to using technology in the right way Pupils have also benefited from computer- The software allows users to upload existing Innovative Tin the classroom and these are being based tools when learning algebra, which is lesson plans or to create new ones. It then demonstrated by a range of exciting projects. notoriously difficult for children to learn. In analyses them and helps tutors to recognise New tools produced by academics at the London collaboration with the Institute of Education, how much of their learning designs are Knowledge Lab in the Department of Computer researchers at Birkbeck have developed the dedicated to various pedagogic practices technologies Science and Information Systems have been MiGen system, which transforms the learning (namely acquisition, reflection and production), piloted in schools across the world, including in of algebraic concepts. Instead of working and makes suggestions. London, and the feedback has been positive. with symbols and equations, pupils use this The Learning Designer was adopted for for learning The researchers follow an interdisciplinary software to construct 2-D tiling patterns and, training computer science graduates studying methodology in which pedagogical theory simultaneously, develop algebraic rules about for the MSc in Educational Technology at informs the initial design of algorithms and tools. the properties of their patterns. The system was the School of Pedagogical and Technological and teaching These are then iteratively evolved and enhanced tested at schools in London, as well as at schools Education (ASPETE) in Greece and at the through successive cycles of user-centred in Mexico, Singapore and Brazil. University of Macerata’s Faculty of Education evaluation. Concurrently, pedagogical theory MiGen’s main intelligent component, called in Italy in a module for trainee teachers. and practice are transformed through the eGeneraliser, gathers information about George Magoulas, Professor of Computer Pupils are improving their the provision of tools to education experts pupils’ construction activities and uses this Science in the Department of Computer and practitioners. to make inferences about pupils’ progress in Science and Information Systems at Birkbeck, maths, and teachers are knowledge assimilation. The provision of real- was one of the principal investigators on the iTalk2Learn time feedback to pupils without destroying LDSE project. He said: “The tool is designed to enhancing their lessons, thanks One of the major projects is called iTalk2Learn, the exploratory and creative potential of encourage teachers to think about how they can to computer systems developed which aims to develop an open-source their interaction with the system is a major improve the way they teach. It promotes novel intelligent tutoring platform that supports maths contribution of this research to the field of approaches to teaching, encouraging tutors by researchers at Birkbeck learning for pupils aged five to 11. Funded by the intelligent constructionist tools for learning to break away from the traditional one-way European Commission, this three-year, €3m and teaching. Teachers are also able to monitor instruction and move towards personalised project recognises that young children are much the progress of their pupils thanks to a suite of learning experiences enhanced by modern more likely to respond to spoken, rather than Teacher Assistance tools, which can additionally technology.” written, instructions and suggestions. suggest pedagogically informed pairings for Both the £1.5m LDSE project and the £1.3m As part of the research, a speaking computer group work, based on a detailed analysis of all MiGen project were funded as part of the program has been designed to teach fractions to the pupils and their work. Technology Enhanced Learning Programme children aged seven to nine. Birkbeck is one of Alex Poulovassilis, Professor of Computer managed by the Economic and Social Research four universities involved in the research, and Science in the Department of Computer Science Council and the Engineering and Physical it is receiving approximately €500,000 for its and Information Systems and Co-Director of Sciences Research Council. They were both part in the study involving schools in the UK the London Knowledge Lab, was one of the undertaken in collaboration with staff from and Germany. principal investigators of the MiGen project. She the Institute of Education and other education Dr Sergio Gutiérrez Santos, Lecturer in said: “This work was pioneering as it provides specialists and practitioners. Birkbeck received the Department of Computer Science and intelligent support to both students and teachers £300,000 and £600,000 for the LDSE and Information Systems, is leading Birkbeck’s during constructionist learning activities. The MiGen projects respectively. participation in iTalk2Learn, which ends in feedback we received was very positive.” The MiGen and LDSE projects were mentioned October 2015. He said: “The computer program in Birkbeck’s submission for the Research speaks to the children, and we know this is a The Learning Designer Excellence Framework (REF) – an audit of the very effective way of teaching. The children The third major project in this area was the quality of all the research carried out in the UK are encouraged to talk through their answers, Learning Design Support Environment (LDSE), higher education sector (p22). and voice recognition software enables the which was motivated by the need to support The projects were both included in an impact program to interact with them, and assess their lecturers and teachers in capturing their case study, entitled Intelligent constructionist performance. Children learn more from their pedagogic ideas, testing them out, reworking tools for learning and teaching, which was part mistakes than from their successes, and the them, allowing them to build on what others of the submission for Computer Science and iTalk2Learn system is designed to support their have learnt, and to share their results with Informatics – one of the Units of Assessment. learning in an exploratory way.” their community. The results of the REF were announced in The Learning Designer promotes the concept December 2014. of lecturers or teachers as designers, in that they use what is already known in order to For more information on research at Birkbeck, visit keep improving their practice, to innovate, and www.bbk.ac.uk/research

28 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 29 Our aim is recapture the materialities“” and rhythms of nineteenth-century serial reading through digital media, while our blog promises to become a fascinating repository of critical thinking and discussion about the novel and a vital future resource for students, scholars and Dickens fans alike.

Birkbeck has also been a notable contributor resource for students, scholars and Dickens to the field of digital humanities and is at the fans alike. Digital forefront of utilising computing technologies Alongside this, we are retelling the novel to help us experience and think about Dickens on Twitter: dozens of people are composing in new and exciting ways. Birkbeck’s Centre tweets, which can be no more than 140 Dickens for Nineteenth-Century Studies is currently characters long, in the guise of the novel’s orchestrating an online reading project, panoply of characters. One of the most focused on Our Mutual Friend (1864–65), famous lines in Our Mutual Friend comes which builds on the successes of other in part five (September 1864), when Betty recent digital Dickens projects. Our Mutual Higden delightedly exclaims, as the foundling Dr Ben Winyard Friend, Dickens’s last completed novel, is Sloppy reads the newspaper aloud, ‘“He do encountered by most readers today as a rather the Police in different voices.”’ Similarly, explains the hefty paperback, usually replete with an our anonymous tweeters are taking on the online project to introduction, footnotes and appendices, or voices of Dickens’s characters. They follow electronically on a tablet or e-book reader. the trajectory of the monthly parts, but often recreate the original Although the medium may change, the take their own Dickensian flights of fancy, format – a single volume novel – remains composing new dialogue, interacting with Dickensian reading the same. Victorian readers, however, first different characters and even developing encountered Our Mutual Friend in 20 separate online lives beyond the novel’s confines. experience monthly parts, published between May In a development that would have surely 1864 and November 1865. Each instalment delighted Dickens, some of the novel’s cost one shilling and was 32 pages long inanimate objects, including the stuffed with two illustrations and over 70 pages of crocodile in Mr Venus’s taxidermy shop and ver his career, Charles Dickens (1812–70) advertisements. Silas Wegg’s wooden leg, are also tweeting. wrote fifteen novels, five Christmas Running between May 2014 and November At the end of every month, the tweets Onovellas and hundreds of short stories 2015, the online reading project marks the are collated on Storify, thus providing an and articles, while also composing thousands novel’s 150th anniversary and will finish just alternative retelling. of letters, giving almost weekly speeches in time for the tenth anniversary of Birkbeck’s With readers in over 80 countries and and readings, and editing two periodicals free online journal, 19: Interdisciplinary contributions from scholars, students and staff (Household Words and All the Year Round). The Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century. In at Birkbeck and other universities worldwide, field of Dickens studies, then, is vast and critical its first decade, 19 has featured contributions these digital projects are forging new reading work has expanded exponentially over the from many notable scholars and remains true communities, bringing Dickens to new past fifty years, particularly as previous critical to its founding mission to provide original, audiences, and challenging and expanding how sniffiness about ‘Mr Popular Sentiment’ – as intellectually rigorous scholarship for free. we read, understand and enjoy Dickens. These Trollope derisively termed Dickens – has been Many Birkbeck students have interned Dickensian projects are also part of a wider replaced by a much richer and deeper literary- on the journal, acquiring online publishing digital strategy within the School of Arts, with critical appreciation of Dickens. skills, before moving on to successful some exciting new initiatives in the pipeline. Birkbeck has been a world-leading centre for careers in academia, publishing and Dickensian studies since the 1960s: many famous various digital enterprises. l 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Dickens scholars have taught and researched, Queen’s University Belfast has scanned Long Nineteenth Century or been trained and nurtured, here. Emeritus the novel’s original monthly parts, giving www.19.bbk.ac.uk Professor Michael Slater, the world’s foremost us a great sense of the reading experience l Birkbeck’s Centre for Nineteenth-Century Dickens scholar and a recent recipient of the of Dickens’s contemporaries. We read Studies MBE, taught in Birkbeck’s Department of English each instalment on the first of the month www.bbk.ac.uk/english/our-research/ and Humanities for many years, while other and then a post on our blog, which might research_cncs notable Birkbeck academics who have expanded cover any aspect of the instalment, gets the l Our Mutual Friend project our understanding of Dickens include Isobel conversation started. We welcome any and dickensourmutualfriend.wordpress.com Armstrong, Steven Connor, John Drew, Holly all comments, from academics, specialists, Facebook: www.facebook.com/DickensOMF Furneaux, Barbara Hardy and Sally Ledger, enthusiasts or anybody who wants to share Twitter: https://twitter.com/DickensOMF among others. An annual Dickens Day conference their thoughts. Our aim is recapture the was established by Professor Slater and other materialities and rhythms of nineteenth- Birkbeck lecturers in 1986 and the event, which century serial reading through digital Dr Ben Winyard is the co-organiser of the annual is now jointly run by Birkbeck, the University of Main image: media, while our blog promises to become a Dickens Day conference. He completed his PhD Leicester and the Dickens Fellowship, has just Charles Dickens fascinating repository of critical thinking and in English at Birkbeck, and is also the Digital celebrated its twenty-eighth year. (iStockphoto) discussion about the novel and a vital future Publications Officer at the College.

30 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 31 “”During the 1946-1947 fuel crisis in Britain, waking up late would have meant missing out on hot water and hot breakfast. The history of energy consumers in energy transitions, past, to shift electricity use out of peak hours. The nations cannot expect smooth growth and systems, cultures and everyday practices. The Professor Frank present and future. lack of energy triggered a reconfiguration of energy security either. If there is one lesson from research will lead to a better understanding of The focus on energy shortages is partly to work and everyday life. During the 1946-1947 the past, it is that it is too simple to trust that the past, which will then inform how we think Trentmann overcome amnesia and to suggest that shortages fuel crisis in Britain, waking up late would technology will fix the problem. Abundance about, and approach, the future of energy – shares research were an integral feature of affluence and have meant missing out on hot water and hot and scarcity go hand in hand. Shortages involve a subject set to grow in importance in the growth – not only of recession. The interest breakfast. Household chores needed to be done politics and culture, as do societies’ strategies to decades ahead. about managing in shortages is also motivated by what they within specified hours when electricity was deal with them. What people did when the lights can reveal about the coping mechanisms of permitted, or they had to be done without went out in the past could tell us something Frank Trentmann is Professor of History at Birkbeck, energy shortages advanced modern societies. electrical appliances at all. In East Germany, about our flexibility and resilience in the future. and the Principal Investigator for the Material in Britain, Japan In November 2014, I presented some early industrial workers were told to work into the In addition to the research on the disruption Cultures of Energy research project. Dr Shin, the findings about energy shortages with my night – in order to shift the peak hours. Such of energy, the ‘Material Cultures of Energy’ Co-Investigator, began working at Birkbeck in and Germany co-presenter Dr Hiroki Shin, then Research shift work had knock-on effects on eating research project includes three other themes: January 2015. The project team also includes Dr Associate at the Sustainable Consumption rhythms, sleeping, shopping and child care energy futures; how rural spaces were Heather Chappells, of Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Institute at the University of Manchester at that were particularly hard on mothers. transformed by grids; and how people managed Canada; Dr Vanessa Taylor, a former Birkbeck the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Today, there is once again talk among and experienced the transition from one fuel PhD student who now works at the University of in Pasadena, California. At this Coping with politicians and energy providers in Britain to another. We investigate these themes by Greenwich; and Rebecca Wright, who is currently Scarcity conference, historians, social scientists, and Europe about future blackouts and a more comparing Britain, Germany, Japan, North completing her PhD at Birkbeck. The project will engineers and scientists examined various types precarious allocation of energy. Developing America and India, with their different energy run until December 2017. of scarcity, including water, food and energy, and the interplay of natural, economic and political forces. The two-day event uncovered Left: ‘More electricity for nergy scarcity has profound implications the complexity of scarcity, past and present, as building socialism’, East Germany 1952. Image: for economies and societies, but also for well as the myriad proposals for its solution. Landesarchiv Berlin Ethe day-to-day routines of individuals We showed how energy disruption did not Far left: Electrical and families. In the twentieth century, the affect all energy users equally. For example, in Development Association, realities of energy shortages extended beyond Japan in the late 1940s, families would have seen ‘No Electric Fires’ blackouts to changing work patterns and from their dark homes brightly lit factories, as campaign, c.1950. Image debates about the energy usage of industry the country was frantically trying to recover reproduced by permission versus household consumers. from the destruction of war. In the same period, of the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester Shortages were a feature of life in socialist East British factory managers were blaming shortages Germany (German Democratic Republic, GDR), on ‘excessive’ household consumers. from its creation in 1949. Peak-time restrictions Past disruptions tell us how unevenly burdens led to factories operating late into the night were distributed between different groups of from East Berlin to Karl-Marx Stadt. In Japan, consumers. In a very real sense, the course of following World War Two, wood charcoal and disruption was often determined by society, firewood were rationed and electricity and based on ideas about who should have more gas supplies were controlled both by official energy and who less, and who should have it at regulations and planning. Britain also faced what time of day or night. Culture and society ongoing difficulties, with frequent load shedding shaped where and when the lights went out in the 1940s, regular power cuts into the early – not just nature or technology. It is therefore 1950s, and three years of unstable power supply no surprise that tensions emerged not only after the big freeze of 1963. between suppliers and consumers but also Understanding the history of such disruptions among consumers themselves. In historical is one of the four aims of the new ‘Material sources, we can see how different consumers Cultures of Energy’ research project based at were weighed against each other. After the Birkbeck. The four-year, £766,568 initiative is Second World War, British homes, for example, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research were far more favourably treated than Japanese Council. The project focuses on the lived, households, which until the 1950s were placed material and imagined world of energy, drawing at the bottom of the supply list. Yet, people did on film, objects, fiction, time-use, consumer not always accept their fate. In Japan, dissatisfied manuals and oral history, as well as official consumers organised protest movements. Some and industrial archives. The research examines just ‘cheated’ suppliers. how culture and energy shaped each other and Such distributional conflicts also affected the seeks to advance the debate about the role of rhythm of day and night, as governments tried

32 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 33 Law enforcement and the global HIV epidemic

Professor Matthew Weait hen we think of police work, we typically think of it as being concerned explains how the School Wwith law enforcement and public order: the purpose of policing is the detection of Law at Birkbeck of criminals and keeping the peace. Even if has contributed to an the truth is somewhat more complex, the professional orientation of police officers towards international policing these functions can result in unintended and negative side effects – especially in the policing consultation on public of particularly vulnerable communities. Indeed, there is robust empirical evidence indicating health and human rights that traditional approaches to policing can result in adverse health outcomes for those who are at increased risk of harm. In particular, a focus on their law and order function, a narrow view of what constitutes public safety, and a conservative occupational culture has meant that in many parts of the world the police have contributed to an enhanced risk of HIV infection among so called ‘key populations’, including sex workers and injecting drug users. There is, for example, evidence of police using the possession of condoms – an effective barrier against infection – as evidence to support an the world, representatives of key populations, In recognition of the value of peer education, and internationally on the reform of laws that allegation of prostitution, and the possession of policy-makers and academics. They heard from “”The School of Law has an a number of serving and retired senior officers, hinder rather than assist efforts to end the syringes as evidence to justify the arrest of drug Michel Kazatchkine, the UN Secretary-General’s internationally recognised from South America, Eastern Europe, Africa and global HIV epidemic. Much of this work has users. The consequence of this is that sex workers Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe Asia, were interviewed by me for a film that will been focused on recommendations about the wishing to avoid harassment and arrest may not and Central Asia – regions in which unsafe drug reputation for legal research and be used in training and advocacy. Participants reform of the law ‘on the books’; and while this carry condoms with them, thereby reducing use is a significant driver of HIV transmission. scholarship that can contribute to also agreed the Amsterdam Declaration on is important, the enforcement of law in practice the opportunity to practise safer sex, and drug Among other things, Professor Kazatchkine progressive legal change. Police Partnerships for Harm Reduction. is arguably even more so. The School of Law has users avoid carrying their own ‘works’, thereby emphasised the importance not only of legal A significant document in the development an internationally recognised reputation for legal increasing the possibility that they will share those reforms that promote rather than hinder public of progressive and evidence-based policing research and scholarship that can contribute of others and so increase their risk of infection health, but of the work that can be done by law practice, the Declaration commits its supporters to progressive legal change. In recent years, its with HIV and other blood-borne diseases. enforcement officers at street and community to an approach to policing key populations that capacity to build on this has been enhanced not These negative effects of traditional policing level to minimise risk. respects human rights, is informed by accepted only by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research are increasingly recognised and efforts are being Participants discussed the issues and principles of harm reduction (recognising, for and the International Centre for Prison Studies, made to address them. An important milestone came up with a number of priorities and example, the importance of clean injecting both of which are now based in the School of was reached in October 2014 at an international recommendations. These included the need to equipment for drug users), and which will Law, but by the successful development of its consultation on policing and HIV in Amsterdam, build police knowledge and capacity, through promote rather than hinder health through undergraduate and postgraduate provision convened by the international Law Enforcement training and the mainstreaming of public health active collaboration and partnership. in criminology and criminal justice. It was a and HIV Network and co-organised by the approaches in police work; the strengthening of The involvement of the School of Law in privilege not only to showcase the School’s Centre for Law Enforcement and Public police–community relations and of mechanisms supporting the Consultation and its outputs expertise in these areas at the consultation, Health (a Melbourne-based social enterprise and practices of police accountability; is a matter of considerable pride to me. For but also to put its principles into practice. organisation), the International Development and the directing of resources towards many years, my research has centred on the Above right: A police car in Law Organization, and the School of Law at ensuring sustainable partnerships, effective impact of law on HIV prevention and on the Matthew Weait is Professor of Law and action on Regent Street in Birkbeck. The consultation brought together communication channels and – a longer-term lives of people living with HIV and AIDS, and I Policy and Pro-Vice-Master Academic London (Alamy) more than 100 senior police officers from across goal – effecting changes in police culture. have been privileged to work both nationally and Community Partnerships.

34 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 35 What the Au pairing in the UK – an thunder said open door to exploitation?

Below: Dr Natasha workshops to write a play, What the per week, but 14% of au pairs do not Kirkham and Ed Theatre gives psychologists insights into Thunder Said, which toured UK primary receive the £85 a week recommended by Harris conducted children’s responses to community violence workshops in 10 schools in March 2014. This play allowed the British Au Pairs Agencies Association. inner-city primary the children, their parents and teachers Au pairing was traditionally supposed and bullying schools to engage in a dialogue about the gap to offer young people the opportunity between what the children experience for cultural exchange, but most hosts and what the adults see. interviewed conceded that meeting Dr Kirkham and fellow Birkbeck childcare needs was their motivation Witnessing violent events in their London, to see whether theatre could psychologist Dr Virginia Eatough for employing an au pair and many au community, in school, on television or play a role in helping children respond analysed the words and expressions of pairs felt that hosts were not interested in computer games can affect children’s to violence around them. the children in workshops and group in providing opportunities for cultural confidence and emotions, particularly if Dr Kirkham and her colleagues, interviews as part of the 18-month exchange. 44% of those advertising for au they are not given an opportunity to talk together with playwright Ed Harris, research project. Results showed a pairs expected prior experience and 26% about what they have seen and how it conducted a series of workshops and significant gap between the children’s were only considering applicants who are made them feel. group interviews with Year Five pupils lived experience and their abstract already in the UK, showing that there is Developmental psychologist Dr Natasha (aged nine to 10) at primary schools in understanding of the rules they are a decreasing differentiation between au Kirkham, of Birkbeck’s Department of 10 inner-city areas with high violent taught. Although they know the rules, pair and nanny roles. Psychological Sciences, worked with crime rates in London, Birmingham, they observe that the rules simply do The nationality of the au pair appears colleagues at King’s College London and Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester. not work a lot of the time. In addition, to influence how they are treated, with the Theatre Centre in Shoreditch, east Harris then used material from these these children’s threshold for behaving au pairs from western Europe generally aggressively is low. Simply being working shorter hours and being given ‘annoyed’ or having someone ‘get on more opportunities for study and cultural my nerves’ can trigger an aggressive exchange than those from central and response. They commonly discuss vastly eastern Europe. different types of aggressive behaviour Dr Cox said: “Au pairs currently have as being equivalent. Murder and cussing no protection in terms of working hours, can be spoken of in the same breath, pay and living conditions. They are only with the same sense of importance. affordable because au pairing is not The implication is that these children recognised as work, while poor conditions perceive their world as dangerous and are justified through discourses of cultural that confusion regarding appropriate exchange and adventure. The government behaviours and correct responses is introduced guidelines in June 2014, but constant. these contain vague terms which need Reflecting on the innovative approach clarification and they need to be backed used in this project, Dr Kirkham said: up by providing au pairs with a means “This project opened my eyes to just iStockphoto of redress if they find that they are being how important it is for developmental badly treated by their host family. scientists to get out of the lab and into the “The fact that so many families are reliant field, to shake up their methods, and to Study reveals need for guidelines to protect au pairs on au pairs and, in many cases, expect listen to individual children. from poor working and living conditions them to take on full-time care of very “These children all had thoughtful, young infants highlights once again the strong opinions about the bullying need for access to flexible and affordable in their environments. A more open childcare. The government, and society dialogue between the children and The UK is home to up to 90,000 au pairs are calling for guidelines that will at large, need to recognise that caring the adults in their communities is clearly at any one time. For many families, au protect au pairs from poor working for children is valuable work, including necessary. pairs are the only workable solution to and living conditions and give them a when it is carried out in private homes. “This experience was personally and the ‘childcare crisis’. However, often the means of redress if they are ill-treated The people that do this work – including professionally cathartic for me, offering experiences of au pairs and their host by host families. au pairs – should be recognised as workers new insights into modern-day parenting, families don’t match up to expectations. The study found that the average au pair and rewarded with appropriate wages and coping strategies (for children and After two years collecting and analysing in the UK works over 38 hours a week, the respect they deserve.” teachers), and developmental resilience. data from au pairs and host families, although some work up to 70 hours, with Ultimately, it proved to me that a lot of Drs Rosie Cox and Nicky Busch, expected duties sometimes including Au Pairs’ Lives in Global Context. Sisters our ideas about how to deal with bullying from the Department of Geography, caring for elderly relatives or helping out or Servants?, edited by Dr Rosie Cox and need to be reworked.” Environment and Development Studies, in family businesses. Average pay is £108 published by Palgrave Macmillan, is out now.

36 RESEARCH AND TEACHING RESEARCH AND TEACHING 37 Another Darkness, Another Dawn: A Exploring Intercultural Communication: Childhood, Youth and Violence in The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: History of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers Language in Action Global Contexts A Commentary Becky Taylor, Reaktion Zhu Hua, Routledge Karen Wells, Erica Burman, Heather Steve Peers, Tamara Hervey, Jeff Kenner Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are some of Investigating the role of language in Montgomery and Alison Watson (eds), and Angela Ward (eds), Hart the most marginalised and vilified people intercultural communication, Zhu Palgrave Macmillan The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the in society. Becky Taylor, Lecturer in Hua, Professor of Applied Linguistics The common-sense understanding of European Union enshrines the key political, History, charts their movement from the and Communication, brings together childhood as a protected space has led to social and economic rights of EU citizens and Indian subcontinent, across the Byzantine current and emerging themes in the violence against and by children being residents in EU law. It was approved in 2000 and Ottoman empires to western Europe field by examining how intercultural understood as spectacular or exceptional. In by the European Parliament, the Council of and the Americas, to their place in the communication permeates our everyday contrast, this collection, co-edited by Karen Ministers and the European Commission. contemporary world. She sets Gypsies’ life. She asks what we can do to achieve Wells, Senior Lecturer in International However, its legal status remained uncertain experiences in the context of broader effective and appropriate intercultural Development and Childhood Studies, until the entry into force of the Treaty of historical changes and demonstrates that communication, and why we study shows how violence enters into ordinary, Lisbon in 2009. This commentary on the history is not always about progress: the language, culture and identity together. routine practices of childhood and Charter, the first in English, written by place of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers Her focus is on the interactions between children’s experiences. It brings together experts from several EU member states, remains as contested today as it was upon people from various cultural and linguistic academic and practitioner points of view to provides an authoritative but succinct their first arrival in western Europe in the backgrounds and the interplay between understand how violence is enacted against statement of how the Charter impacts on EU, fifteenth century. cultural diversity and language practice. children in infancy, in school, in care, domestic and international law. Co-editor at home and on the street. Angela Ward is Visiting Professor of Law from the Court of Justice of the EU.

Deeds and Words: Gendering Politics after Joni Lovenduski Rosie Campbell and Sarah Childs (eds), ECPR Press Birkbeck How does feminism shake up political science, the study of politics and electoral politics? What difference do feminist books political scientists and politicians make to political institutions, policy processes and outcomes? Pioneering feminist political 2013– scientist Professor Joni Lovenduski, who is Anniversary Professor of Politics at Birkbeck, helped to establish these 2014 questions on the political science agenda. Co-editor Rosie Campbell, Reader in Politics, A selection of books addresses key themes in Lovenduski’s work, while vignettes by prominent politicians authored or edited by staff and practitioners, including Dame Anne Begg MP and the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, bring the academic analysis to life.

Passivity Generation: Human Rights Terrorist Transgressions: Gender and the Women Writing Art History in the Mobilities and Neighbourhood Belonging and Everyday Morality Visual Culture of the Terrorist Nineteenth Century: Looking Like in Cities and Suburbs Irene Bruna Seu, Palgrave Macmillan Sue Malvern and Gabriel Koureas (eds), a Woman Paul Watt and Peer Smets (eds), “If only people knew, they would do IB Tauris Hilary Fraser, Palgrave Macmillan something.” Every day we see evidence Terrorism has a variety of contexts, Cambridge University Press Contemporary urban and suburban that, when it comes to human rights histories and forms, which have been the Hilary Fraser, who is the Geoffrey Tillotson dwellers seem to be constantly on the violations, knowledge is not a guarantee focus of intense scrutiny in recent years. Professor of Nineteenth-Century Studies move – commuting to work and travelling of action. What stops people from doing Cultural representations of the terrorist at Birkbeck, sets out to correct received for leisure as well as moving house. Does more to protect human rights? What factors have received much less attention. accounts of the emergence of art history this mean that people are rootless and lack generate passivity? Or are we simply a Dissident organisations create images of as a masculine field. She investigates the a sense of belonging to particular places? passive generation? Irene Bruna Seu, Reader terrorists as martyrs, heroes or avengers, importance of female writers in developing a Or does enhanced mobility co-exist with in Psychosocial Studies, addresses these while international counterterrorist discourse of art notable for its complexity and feelings of community and belonging? questions and applies a mix of psychosocial agencies visualise them to ensure the threat cultural power, its increasing professionalism These questions are examined by co- methods to understand the complexity has a recognisable persona. Co-editor and reach, and its integration with other editor Paul Watt, Senior Lecturer in Urban of emotional, cognitive and ideological Gabriel Koureas, Lecturer in the History discourses of modernity. Proposing a Studies, through case studies drawn responses to human rights violations. of Art, examines images of the terrorist more flexible and inclusive model of what from research in the cities and suburbs of and discusses how they challenge societal constitutes art historical writing, including Europe, North America and Africa. norms. fiction, poetry and travel literature, this book offers a radically revisionist account of the genealogy of a discipline and a profession.

38 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 39 Our students choose Birkbeck for many different reasons, but they share a dedication to their Our studies and a determination to achieve students

Cansu Kucuk Chris Parker Emma Lawley Michael Boampong Tosh and Alison Moller Kate Ruusuvuori MSc Marketing Communications, Law (LLB), legal adviser, actor and presenter Law (LLB), future trainee solicitor PhD Geography, former Migration and BSc Geology Certificate of Higher Education in Life breast cancer survivor “I thought I want to go and get an education “I have definitely achieved my ambition Youth Development Specialist for the Tosh said: “We looked at several universities, Sciences for Subjects Allied to Medicine “Birkbeck gave me a new lease of life. I had and open up the opportunities available to me of working at a top City law firm thanks to United Nations but the clincher was that Birkbeck’s course was “Before I started, I thought that I would be the always wanted to return to university, but had in broadcasting. I wanted to satisfy my thirst Birkbeck. In 2013, I became the first paralegal “Studying here will allow me to carry out my accredited and offered 100 days in the field – oldest in the class and the only person studying kept putting it off and thought I was too old to for knowledge and get into factual projects, as recruited by Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) studies with supervision from people who have none of the other universities could match that. in order to change career. In fact, I was neither. go back. Once I was diagnosed with breast opposed to just entertainment broadcasting. from Birkbeck’s School of Law. A year later I was been trailblazers in their field, while developing I found the fieldwork particularly rewarding. My classmates were fabulous and there was a cancer in January 2012, I thought I can’t Having always been interested in the law, offered, and accepted, a training contract with relationships with great thinkers. I am sure that There’s no substitute for looking at rocks up massive cross-section of people. I made some continue to put my dreams on hold. I went to I decided to go to a Birkbeck Open Evening and BLP to commence in 2016. after this PhD, I will be equipped with thought- close and it’s satisfying to recognise their great friends who I’m still in touch with three the Open Evening the same day as I had one of find out more. It was just meant to be – I love the “Birkbeck appealed to me because it is part provoking development perspectives and relationship in the field. It was a great bonus to years later. my Zoladex injections. law and now I feel like I have found my calling.’ of the University of London and because of the become a better critical thinker and innovator. be able to study, with my wife, the same subject “The tutors were absolutely fantastic and really “Studying was a great distraction from my “Birkbeck is a research-intensive university. high calibre of teaching on offer. The evening All the staff and students at Birkbeck have been at the same time. We were always studying for inspired me to go away from class and to learn cancer treatment and gave me something to You are taught by the authors of legal books and teaching model was ideal as I was working and very welcoming. the journey, rather than the destination, but it more for myself. When the tutors were talking focus on and enjoy. The cancer treatment meant they are also practising solicitors and barristers. studying at the same time. It was a challenge “As I come from Ghana, I would not have was still very satisfying to graduate last year.” about their research in class, you could see them I was unable to walk, my bones were weak and I have become engrossed by the law, and my combining work and study, but you quickly been able to afford living in London without Alison said: “I had never studied science light up and they were so passionate about it my concentration was poor, but I was desperate studies have changed me as a person. People can learn to manage your time effectively. The staff the financial support from Birkbeck. The before and that was a big challenge. Luckily, that it made me realise that was what I wanted to continue with my studies. I saw Mark Pimm, now have two or three careers during their lives, at Birkbeck are very accommodating and are Anniversary Scholarship gives me peace of Tosh has a scientific background and most to do. Birkbeck’s Disability Service Manager (see page and Birkbeck has helped me build my second always on hand to offer support. mind and enables me to concentrate on my PhD weeks after the lecture we would go through ‘The things I learnt at Birkbeck really prepared 37), and he told me to start accepting help so that career. I have also made great friends from the “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Birkbeck, without having to look for paid work. I am being the material line by line at home and he would me for studying my undergraduate degree in I could achieve my best. Birkbeck really helped course. If you are thinking about studying at meeting new people and making strong paid to learn – it is an excellent opportunity. explain the geochemistry and geophysics to me. BSc (Hons) Nutrition at King’s College London. me with different coping techniques. I received a Birkbeck, go for it – you will not regret it.” friendships. The opportunities given to me “Development discourse and issues in London We had fantastic lecturers; it was a real joy and “Studying at Birkbeck definitely changed me laptop, dictaphone and special software to help by Birkbeck were absolutely brilliant – they greatly influence international development we looked forward to class every week. We do and helped me to become a really dedicated and overcome my memory problems.” really exceeded my expectations.” agendas. It is interesting to be right here miss it now.” conscientious student. Now I want to get out and have some first-hand exposure to the there and apply my knowledge to a governance and way of life here.” professional situation.”

For more student profiles, visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/ student-profiles

40 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 41 Honorary Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have attained distinction in academic New or public life, who have rendered exceptional service, which may include philanthropic support, Fellows to Birkbeck, or who have, or have had, a close association with Birkbeck

Professor Laurel Brake Mary Curnock Cook OBE Professor Philip Dewe Sir Alan Langlands John McDonnell MP Peter Westley Laurel Brake, Professor Emerita of Literature Mary Curnock Cook OBE joined the Universities Professor Philip Dewe is Professor of Sir Alan Langlands is Vice-Chancellor of the John McDonnell has been the Member of Peter Westley has spent his career in the service and Print Culture, is a distinguished scholar and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) as Organizational Behaviour at Birkbeck. Having University of Leeds. Between 2009 and 2013 he Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997. of colleges of the University of London. After and author whose long affiliation with Birkbeck Chief Executive in January 2010. She came to joined the College from Massey University in his was Chief Executive of the Higher Education His background is similar to that of many qualifying as an accountant in 1982, he joined began in 1971, when she completed her doctorate UCAS after six years at the Qualifications and native New Zealand in 2000, Professor Dewe also Funding Council for England. Prior to that, Birkbeck students, in that after leaving school University College London, before spending 16 at the College and took up a three-year Research Curriculum Development Agency. gave outstanding service to Birkbeck as Vice- he was Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the he held a series of unskilled jobs before studying years at the Institute of Education, where he Assistant post. From 1994 to 2001, Mary Curnock Cook Master for 11 years. Stepping down in summer University of Dundee (2000–2009) and Chief for his A-levels at night school, going on to study was Deputy Finance Secretary. Returning in 1988 to head the Literature in was Chief Executive of BII, the professional 2014 now allows him more time for his research Executive of the NHS in England (1994–2000). for a BSc in Government and Politics at Brunel He joined Birkbeck as Finance Secretary in English programme in Continuing Education, body for licensed retailing. She served as a interests, while he continues to contribute to the He has a particular interest in the scientific University. He completed a Master’s in Politics 1994 and retired as Director of Finance early Professor Brake taught at Birkbeck for 20 years, Council member on the Further Education College as Pro-Vice-Master for Special Projects. basis of health services and, from its inception and Sociology at Birkbeck, while helping to run in 2014, having steered the College’s finances before retiring in 2008 as Professor of Literature Funding Council between 1997 and 2001, and Among Professor Dewe’s many achievements in 2004 until 2012, he chaired the board of UK a children’s home and working for the National prudently through turbulent times, including and Print Culture. During that time she helped was Chairman of award-winning e-learning as Vice-Master has been his work in Stratford, Biobank, a major genetic epidemiology study Union of Mineworkers and then the Trades the collapse of the College’s then investment to found the Certificate in Creative Writing, an company Creative Learning Media from 2002 to east London, which culminated in the opening funded principally by the Wellcome Trust and Union Congress. banker, Barings, in 1995. interdisciplinary MA in Gender and the MA in 2005. She has an MSc in General Management of the University Square Stratford campus in the Medical Research Council. Knighted in 1998 Active in his local community as a grassroots During the late 1990s, Peter Westley studied Creative Writing. from the London Business School, and was November 2013. for his services to the NHS, Sir Alan is a Fellow of campaigner, John McDonnell joined the Labour for a BA in Accounting and Management at Professor Brake served as a staff Governor and awarded an OBE in the 2000 Queen’s Birthday He said: “It has given me enormous pleasure to the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Party and was elected to represent his home Birkbeck, graduating with a First in 2000. was for many years equal opportunities officer Honours for services to training in hospitality see the completion of this milestone. Its existence Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. constituency of Hayes and Harlington on the He said: “I wanted to refresh my knowledge for the Association of University Teachers trade and tourism. is the fruit of many years spent exploring He said: “I have long been impressed by Greater London Council (GLC) in 1981, becoming and I am particularly pleased that I was able union. Since her formal retirement, Professor She said: “With some 20 years of experience opportunities for widening participation, Birkbeck’s pioneering role in adult education for Chair of Finance and Ken Livingstone’s deputy to do this at Birkbeck. I am now enjoying my Brake has continued to teach an MA module at working in secondary, vocational and now developing programmes that capture the working people. Its founder, George Birkbeck, leader. Following the abolition of the GLC, he retirement and the arrival of a grandson. the University of London’s Institute of English higher education, I am particularly proud to aspirations of those living in east London, was a professor of natural philosophy at the joined Camden Borough Council as Head of its I am immensely proud to have been offered Studies and is involved in Birkbeck’s Centre for become a Fellow of a university which is pushing and developing our relationships within that Andersonian Institute in my home town of Policy Unit, later becoming Chief Executive a Fellowship and look forward to continue Nineteenth-Century Studies. the boundaries of understanding learning community so that they may be able to become Glasgow, and Birkbeck was founded in the of the Association of London Authorities and being involved with Birkbeck in the future.” She said: “I was delighted, touched – and and teaching through its education research part of the wider Birkbeck community. Anderson tradition of a liberal education at the the Association of London Government. a little surprised! – to be invited to become a programme and the Centre for Educational “That sense of belonging is important to all of forefront of applied science and technology. In Parliament, he is the Chair of the Socialist Fellow. I feel very deeply aligned to the Birkbeck Neuroscience. This research is so fundamentally us at Birkbeck. I am, of course, both delighted Its success across the wide range of academic Campaign Group of MPs. mission, and being a Fellow is a lovely way for important – to be honest, I’d like to enrol and honoured to become a Fellow, but I am activity, from arts and humanities to social John McDonnell said: “Birkbeck gave me the me to continue to be involved in that and to right now. But then, enrolment-envy is an particularly thrilled that this will allow me to sciences and biological sciences, is testament to opportunity to explore a radical new world of For profiles contribute to the College community.” occupational hazard in my job and a Fellowship continue to belong to Birkbeck and to continue the great values of those early years.” ideas and it opened my eyes to the potential we of all Birkbeck’s of Birkbeck is a truly wonderful alternative.” to share in the mission that College founder have to change society.” Fellows, visit: George Birkbeck set out nearly 200 years ago. www.bbk.ac.uk/ He talked in terms of ‘universal access to the about-us/ blessings of knowledge’; becoming a Fellow will fellows allow me to continue to contribute to, and to share, that aspiration.”

42 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 43 Richard Burr has had a busy year. He was from my first time at university though – the the bookies’ favourite to win the BBC’s Great tutors consistently made studying a joy. Research into eating British Bake Off, achieving the ‘star baker’ Building, “I don’t think I would have applied for the accolade five times during the series, but he Bake Off if I hadn’t had the confidence boost that narrowly missed out on taking the title in the Birkbeck gave me and the experience of taking disorders in people final. His outstanding performances and affable the plunge with something and it working out personality mean that invitations to appear on baking brilliantly. The Bake Off and evening study television shows and to judge cake sales continue crossed over in a lot of ways as well. For both to pour in. of them you need to be determined, work hard with type 1 diabetes Richard gained a first-class BSc in Biodiversity and and love what you’re doing.” and Conservation at Birkbeck in 2012. He was in The television series may now be over, but the process of applying to a Master’s degree in there are still opportunities arising from it, Geographic Information Science at the College, Birkbeck and Richard is also “trying to keep the family when he found out that he would be appearing business spinning”. Nor has he abandoned the on Bake Off. idea of coming back to Birkbeck for his Master’s Life for Jacqueline Allan, who has type 1 diabetes, has Clearly someone who is not afraid of a degree. “I’m in a very lucky position,” Richard already been transformed by Birkbeck and she is now challenge, Richard began his first degree at Richard Burr’s baked goods mused, “I have three avenues open at the Birkbeck shortly before the birth of his first moment – building, baking and Birkbeck. At the undertaking funded doctoral research daughter, and by the time he graduated, he were a hit on television moment I don’t want to close off any of those, had a second daughter too. He also managed to so I’m trying to live three lives at once!” combine evening study with new parenthood screens nationwide during and running the family building business in Jacqueline Allan has a remarkable story to get my value from my academic progress. north London. The Great British Bake Off tell and is extremely grateful to Birkbeck. That’s what’s kept me going – knowing Richard recalled: “One evening I mentioned in 2014 She received a scholarship and first-class that I’m improving all the time, and that to my wife that the first thing I’d do if I won honours for her BSc in Psychology at the what I do now is so much more important the lottery would be to go to university and College, and is now continuing her studies than what I look like. I can’t really put it get a degree. From that moment on it became at PhD level, thanks to one of Birkbeck’s into words how grateful I am to Birkbeck. inevitable that I would end up at Birkbeck. outside of their studies.” 20 Anniversary Scholarships for PhD Birkbeck has turned my life around.” My wife Sarah (née Bradshaw) studied for her Having dropped out of his first degree at another students. The doctoral scholarships, which Jacqueline’s PhD research looks at Master’s degree in London Studies there from university, Richard was anxious about going cover tuition fees and provide a stipend of psychological risk and protective factors 2001 to 2003 and loved it. And of course it’s the back to study. He said: “After my first university £15,726 per year, were offered in 2013 to in variations of blood sugar in those ‘go to’ institution for people that work – it’s experience I’d mentally assigned myself to the mark Birkbeck’s 190th birthday. with type 1 diabetes. She explained: perfectly set up to support people that have a life academic scrapheap. Birkbeck was so different Six years ago, Jacqueline started a “If blood sugar levels in people with charity called Diabetics with Eating type 1 diabetes are not controlled by Disorders to offer support to people daily insulin injections, then the body suffering from diabulimia – an eating begins to destroy its own tissues. There disorder in which a person with type 1 are people with type 1 diabetes who diabetes reduces their insulin intake to deliberately omit to take their insulin lose weight. in order to achieve rapid weight loss. She said: “I knew that getting a This is incredibly dangerous and can psychology degree would be the best way lead to serious health complications and to make a difference through my charity death. It is an eating disorder in its own work and that was a driving force for me”. right with a very different etiology and Jacqueline, who at the time suffered prognosis from anorexia and bulimia, but from diabulimia, delayed starting her it remains largely unrecognised. undergraduate degree for a year so that “My professional goals and my personal she could make sure she was healthy goals are one and the same thing now enough to be successful. She credits her and when I actually stop and think about achievements at Birkbeck with playing an that, it’s mind-blowing. My work is my important part in her recovery, saying: PhD, but my PhD is done solely on behalf “It’s been totally transformative, and I feel of people who have supported me and completely different about myself. I now who I support.”

44 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 45 Left: Princess Anne visits Birkbeck (Birkbeck Archive) From politics at Birkbeck to Below: Professor Michael Wise policy-making in Brussels

my students during the day and then Studying at Birkbeck in gave a similar lecture in the evening. the late 1980s helped Although it was a long day for me, I never had any reluctance from the Claude Moraes to students: Birkbeck students, being older, always seemed pleased to ask questions form his political ideas and have some discussion. I enjoyed teaching at Birkbeck very much, and and to launch his was very pleased to be involved for so successful political career many years.” Over the years, Professor Wise has seen the College adapt to many changes and challenges, and he came to know a succession of Birkbeck’s Masters. “I knew Ronald Tress [Master from 1968 Claude Moraes is a trailblazer in European to 1977] well and then George Overend politics. The Labour MEP was one of the [1979–1987],” Professor Wise recalled. first Asian MEPs to join the European “As an economist, Tress took a broad Parliament in 1999, and in July 2014 he approach to the subject, and was very was re-elected for his fourth term. The long view: reminiscing keen on teaching – he was also good at Still only 49, the London MEP is responding to what students wanted. I already one of the veterans of the liked him and got on well with him. He European Parliament. about university life since was a very good Master, as was Overend. After studying law in his hometown “It was the same with Tessa Blackstone of Dundee, Moraes decided, aged 21, [1987–1997], a very able Master of whom to study an MSc in Politics and the 1950s I saw a great deal and who I worked with Administration at Birkbeck. He was closely over the years.” attracted by the evening classes, as he Now enjoying his retirement, Professor could combine studying with working Wise attends Fellows’ dinners and is as an adviser to Labour MPs John Reid delighted to still be a part of the Birkbeck and Paul Boateng (now both Lords). He Birkbeck Fellow and former Chair of Governors community. persuaded the late Ben Pimlott, then Professor of Politics and Contemporary Professor Michael Wise CBE MC looks back at a lifetime History at Birkbeck, that, despite his of teaching and research in London youth, he was a suitable candidate for postgraduate study. Moraes said: “I told Ben Pimlott what I had read and I managed to persuade him From teaching geography to Birkbeck’s Society Gill Memorial Award and to admit me. Ben was a real politician’s students to working with a succession Founder’s Medal, Professor Wise was writer, as he combined journalism and of Birkbeck’s Masters, Professor Michael awarded the CBE in 1979. serious writing with geeky politics.” More than 25 years after completing his tackles matters including immigration Wise has been part of the Birkbeck While working at LSE, Professor Wise However, juggling work and study was part-time studies at Birkbeck, Moraes and asylum, cross-border crime, data community for more than 50 years. was recruited to the University of London not straightforward. Moraes recalled, still recognises the impact of his course regulation and anti-discrimination law. Now aged 96, Professor Wise joined intercollegiate lecture programme in with affection, when he was hauled into on his career. He said: “My experiences He added: “The EU is about economic the College’s governing body in 1968, 1952 by Birkbeck’s then Professor of the office of the late Paul Hirst, Professor at Birkbeck, including the influence of growth, but also about values – from was Chair of Governors for six years Geography, Sidney Wooldridge. of Social Theory. Hirst explained that leading left-wing thinkers, have really democracy to the stewardship of the in the 1980s, and became a Fellow in Professor Wise recalled: “These lectures there was a departmental sweepstake shaped my career as a Labour politician. environment. Our challenges relate to 1989. He retired as Emeritus Professor were held at Birkbeck because it was regarding the reasons for Moraes’ The course gave me a broader perspective, how the EU handles austerity and how of Geography in 1985 after more than central – students would come from all absences, and he was putting his money and I became more mature as I was Above: Claude it addresses youth unemployment. 30 years’ teaching at the London School the different London colleges. They were on work-related visits to Scotland. Hirst studying with people older at the time.” Moraes canvasses Undoubtedly, the EU will stay together of Economics, and after a lifetime of held on a Friday and repeated in the ahead of European wanted to know whether he had won the Moraes is now the chairman of the elections in May and grow, but the UK’s position is distinguished contributions to the field evening for Birkbeck students, which bet. Moraes confirmed that he was right European Parliament’s influential and 2014 (Stuart C. uncertain. That day of reckoning is of geography. A former President of wasn’t too popular with my wife, – and made sure that he did not miss wide-ranging Civil Liberties, Justice Wilson/Getty coming. I will be campaigning for the the International Geographical Union because it meant I got home so late! classes thereafter. and Home Affairs Committee, which Images) UK to stay in a reformed EU.” and recipient of the Royal Geographical “I lectured in economic geography for

46 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 47 Left: An airship over St Bride’s Church, off Fleet Street in London, a short distance from Birkbeck’s home at the time in Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane According to the roll of honour,“” Birkbeck (Mary Evans Picture Library). 87 members of Birkbeck’s community, including five past or present members of staff and one during governor, were killed. the Great War According to the 1914-1915 annual review, students in 1917-1918 (the figures were 239 John Charles Bigham, 1st Viscount Mersey, and 226 respectively) as more and more men delivered an “eloquent and impressive address were recruited to the battlefield. on War and Patriotism”, which was followed Despite the “disaster” of war, the annual by many enlistments, including to the College reviews document how teaching and learning Officers’ Training Corps. In the same report, continued at Birkbeck. The report from The resilience of references are made to students enlisting for 1915-1916 reads: “The College has adapted “special chemical work in the Army” itself to the changed conditions, and with Birkbeckians during in response to a call from the War Office. slight modifications, has fulfilled its regular World War One ensured Birkbeck staff, students and alumni joined the functions”. Three years later, a similar sentiment forces during the war, including the inspirational was echoed in the latest report: “During the that teaching continued and pioneering Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan war all the regular courses of instruction were at the College and led CBE DSc, who received the CBE honour maintained with marked success, in spite of because of her wartime service. As well as difficult conditions due more particularly to to individual battlefield being Birkbeck’s first female professor, and a shortage of staff”. honours prominent botanist and mycologist, she served as the Controller of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in France and was the Commandant of the Women’s Royal Air Force. he unprecedented conflict of 1914 to Other individuals mentioned in the annual 1918 had a profound impact upon life at reviews include Captain Sidney Eames MC, Zeppelin Nights: TBirkbeck and the lives of its staff, students who was appointed Chief Instructor at a Trench London in the and alumni. Special lectures at the College Mortar and Bombing School in France, and HN First World War focused on patriotism and trench making, Dale Richards BSc, a former assistant in the Jerry White, classes had to be abandoned because of Zeppelin Zoology Department, who joined the navy as The Bodley Head air raids, and at least 530 Birkbeckians fought a surgeon and was killed in the Mediterranean overseas. According to the roll of honour, 87 when his ship was torpedoed. members of Birkbeck’s community, including The sadness and severity of the losses incurred five past or present members of staff and one during the war were referred to year after year governor, were killed. In total, 55 honours and in the annual reports: “The College, like other distinctions were awarded to Birkbeckians for educational institutions, has suffered under the service during the Great War. blight of war” (1914-1915); “The College may feel The details of Birkbeck’s history during a pride mingled with sadness at the loss of these this turbulent period are all recorded in the promising lives” (1915-1916); and “The death minutes of College meetings and Birkbeck’s of so many strong and promising young men annual reviews – the early twentieth-century brings home to the College the supreme sacrifice Award-winning London historian Jerry White, predecessors of BBK magazine. The documents, this country is making of its best and bravest in Professor of History at Birkbeck, launched stored in the archives in Malet Street, pay tribute the course of justice and honour (1916-1917).” his book Zeppelin Nights in May 2014. The to the fallen and describe in frank terms what life Despite the horrors and perils of war, soldiers scholarly work, which won the Spear’s Prize was like during the Great War, when Birkbeck still read and exhibited a desire to learn at the for Social History Book of 2014, explains how was based at Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, front. According to the annual review of 1917- London was transformed by the Great War. in the City of London. 1918: “It is noteworthy and of excellent augury for Munitions were manufactured in the capital’s The College took swift and uncompromising the future that in the army on the Continent books factories, wounded soldiers were treated in its action to support the war effort following the of study and literary pursuits have proved the best hospitals, and London came under air attack outbreak of hostilities on 4 August 1914. form of relief during periods of quiescence”. for the first time. As well as the horrors of the On 17 August, a special joint meeting of the The global conflict and fighting overseas conflict, London experienced an economic executive, finance and alterations committee directly affected Birkbeck. The College provided boom linked to the war effort, the end of was convened, and it resolved to leave posts assistance and free education to Belgian Victorian levels of poverty, the growth of open and to continue to pay salaries (minus refugees, about a dozen of whom attended opportunities for women in the labour market, naval or military pay) to staff away on active classes. Zeppelin raids also led to classes being and the shift towards manufacturing in the service. At another committee meeting in suspended at Birkbeck on the first evening of capital’s western suburbs. October 1914, it was resolved that “no German the academic year in 1917. Student numbers or Austrian student be allowed to attend the halved from 930 in 1913-1914 to 465 in 1917- Listen to a podcast interview with Professor Jerry College during the war”. 1918. Female students also outnumbered male White at: www.bbk.ac.uk/birkbeckvoices/episode21

48 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 49 Obituaries

Top: Sir Peter Hall visited 35 countries to advise on land During the 1990s he was involved Dame Phyllis Somers (1922–2014) Professor Patrick Below, left: management and alleviation of poverty, Professor Patrick in public policy, advising the then Philanthropist McAuslan and Professor and contributed to land reform in many McAuslan Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine Birkbeck Fellow Dame Phyllis Somers of those. Indeed there are not many Below, right: on the early vision for the Thames died peacefully at her home on Jersey in Sir Graham Hills are developing world countries or ‘difficult’ Professor Sir Gateway and Channel Tunnel rail link. March 2014, aged 92. Widow of airline places he did not visit as an advisor. Graham Hills Peter Hall gained a Master’s and tycoon JN ‘Nat’ Somers, Dame Phyllis was among the Birkbeck staff “His land policy work has been doctorate in geography at St Catharine’s made a Fellow of Birkbeck in recognition documented in his prolific writing. College, Cambridge, and began his of her philanthropic support of Birkbeck’s and Fellows remembered His recent books include Land Law academic career at Birkbeck in 1957 as an Biomedical Chemistry Laboratory in the Reform in Eastern Africa: Traditional Assistant Lecturer in Geography. He had School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. or Transformative? and Bringing the an early fascination with the historical Her philanthropic contributions to Law Back In: Essays in Land, Law and development of London and its traditional Birkbeck over more than a decade of Development. It is no exaggeration to industries in the East End. He later became involvement in the College also included Professor Patrick McAuslan MBE call Professor McAuslan the father of Professor of Geography at the University of support for the Learning Information (1937–2014) postcolonial land law.” Reading, latterly also becoming Professor Centre in 2005. Most recently she gave Pioneering Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. support to Birkbeck’s undergraduate Patrick McAuslan MBE was a member of The Rt Hon the Lord Barnett PC He took up the chair of Planning at The bursary scheme. the team that established the Birkbeck (1923–2014) Bartlett in 1989. He was awarded Dame Phyllis was an extremely Law School in 1993, where he taught and Former Labour Cabinet minister a Birkbeck Fellowship in 2012. generous philanthropist who made a researched until his death in January Lord Joel Barnett was educated in lasting difference to many people’s lives 2014. He was a pioneer and world expert Manchester and began his working life Professor Sir Graham Hills through her support for medical research in land law, law reform, sustainable as an accountant. Elected as the Member (1926–2014) and social welfare charities in Jersey, development, the alleviation of poverty of Parliament for Heywood and Royton Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the UK and the US. Her financial and planning law. in 1964, he went on to serve as Chief University of Strathclyde support and personal energy especially In a tribute to Professor McAuslan, Secretary to the Treasury from 1974- Visionary university leader Professor Sir benefited Cancer Research UK. She Professor Costas Douzinas, Professor of 1979, working closely with Denis Healey Graham Hills won a scholarship to his received a DBE in the Queen’s Birthday Law and Director of the Birkbeck Institute in the Callaghan government. During this local grammar school but left with the Honours in 2013 in recognition of her for the Humanities, said: “Patrick studied time he devised the system for allocating equivalent of O-levels when his family work for charitable services. at Oxford University and taught at the public spending to Scotland, Wales and were bombed out of their home during The Master of Birkbeck, Professor David LSE, Warwick, UCL and Birkbeck. His Northern Ireland, which became known the Second World War. Latchman, said: “I first met Dame Phyllis Birkbeck Professorial Inaugural Address as the ‘Barnett formula’ – something he He had to take work as a laboratory when I was Dean of the Institute of Child was his fourth, but he proudly stated that always considered a ‘temporary fix’. assistant at chemical company May and Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the reception afterwards was the best. He was made a life peer in 1983 as Baker, from where he gained practical of which she was a generous supporter. His courses in planning, environmental Baron Barnett of Heywood and Royton experience of industry that informed his Following my move to Birkbeck, I was and land law changed mainstream in Greater Manchester, and his public academic career. Colleagues encouraged delighted that she was as understanding perceptions, as did his classic Ideologies appointments included Vice-Chairman him to enrol at Birkbeck, and despite of Birkbeck’s unique mission, and I was of Planning Law (1980). of the BBC. He was made a Fellow of the College being hit in bombing raids, most grateful for her support. The College “But his legacy remains the lifelong Birkbeck in 1992 and a year later became he completed his BSc in Chemistry and students benefited greatly from her commitment to social justice and Chairman of the Birkbeck College in 1946 and received his PhD from generosity and interest.” development through land reform, and Appeal, running the College’s fundraising Birkbeck in 1950. The experience led to his love affair with Africa. It started in campaign from 1993-1996. him becoming a persuasive advocate for Birkbeck has also been saddened to 1961, when Patrick and William Twining widening access to higher education. learn of the deaths of other members of established the first African Law School Sir Peter Hall (1932-2014) A lecturing post at Imperial College the College community, including staff in Dar es Salaam, where he taught for Leading expert in town planning was followed in 1962 by a Chair in member Ken Brown, Network Services five years. Geographer Sir Peter Hall was Professor Physical Chemistry at the University Analyst; Birkbeck Fellow Lord Heyhoe; “In 1993, Patrick was appointed Land of Planning and Regeneration at The of Southampton. He later became the former Reader in Psycholinguistics Management Co-ordinator of the UN- Bartlett, University College London, university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Heather van der Lely; former Habitat Urban Management Programme in and President of the Town and Country before being appointed to Strathclyde Fellow Jack Jacobs; former College Nairobi, starting a long career of advising Planning Association (TCPA). Knighted as Principal and Vice-Chancellor in Registrar Horace Law (Jock) Snaith; governments on land management for his services to the TCPA in 1998, 1980. His academic achievements were and former College Secretary Mr reform. He acted as an advisor for the he was renowned for his work on the recognised with a knighthood in 1988 Robert Swainson. UN, the World Bank, the European economic, demographic, cultural and and through many fellowships and Union and Department for International management issues that face cities honorary degrees. He was made For more obituaries, visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/ Development among others. Patrick around the globe. a Birkbeck Fellow in 1984. alumni/alumni-community/tributes

50 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 51 Why I give Birkbeck in numbers

39% Hedge fund manager 39% PART Geraldine Sundstrom PART TIME 1608 1608 4818 TIME 4377 4818 improved her prospects 51% 4377 by studying at Birkbeck 51% FULL FULL UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OTHER UNDERGRADUATE – and she is now helping TIME TIME UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OTHER UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTSSTUDENTS others to reach their FULL-TIME PART-TIME FULL-TIME PART-TIME goals too UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT 728 728 362 362 When I visited Birkbeck in October 3150 500 2014, I was a bit disorientated at first. 3150 500 The grand entrance in Malet Street, which I last went through to sit my POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH exams, has become the goods entrance. POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH That is when I realised that many years have passed – and much has changed – since I was studying for my MSc in 13721372 STUDENT AGE Finance (1996–1998) at Birkbeck. The STUDENT AGE main entrance has moved to Torrington ALUMNIALUMNI Square, next to the impressive five-floor, DONATED glass-fronted library, yet the primary DONATED mission of Birkbeck as a world-class provider of higher education, taught in the evenings and catering for part-time £360,000£360,000 students, still remains. I enjoyed the unique opportunity to study for my Master’s degree part-time, while being a professional and earning a living. When it comes to providing a fair and equal chance for all, not much can 28243160 20702748 match Birkbeck’s dedication to part-time 28243160 20702748 students. Generations have been able to enjoy this unique opportunity. Part-time study can be challenging. Running a professional life, student life, Getting my postgraduate degree in challenge of part-time study to build a personal life, and sometimes supporting 1998 was enriching, a fantastic door- better future. It seemed natural for me a family, can be incredibly demanding, opener and an experience that truly to give some support, particularly for UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OTHER UNDERGRADUATE verging on heroic in some cases. I almost made me ready to embark on my career. undergraduate student bursaries. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OTHER UNDERGRADUATE gave up my studies halfway through I am ever so glad and proud to have If my donation can make a little GENDERGENDER because they were so hard at times. finished my studies. difference, bring comfort or simply peace 21751702 406456 My days started at 7am at my desk in the Almost two years ago I was approached of mind, and help one more Birkbeck 21751702 406456 City and typically I wasn’t back home by Chris Murphy, Head of Development student to reach graduation, I will feel till 10pm after my studies at Birkbeck. and Alumni at Birkbeck. He was eager privileged. That’s why I am giving to The highlight of my day was often my to find out about my experiences at Birkbeck. evening break at the Birkbeck cafeteria, Birkbeck, their impact on my career, chatting with my understanding and whether I would be interested in To donate to Birkbeck, to volunteer classmates, some of whom are now donating to Birkbeck. I didn’t hesitate, or to find out more, visit: friends for life. as I admire people who take on the www.bbk.ac.uk/alumni POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH

52 OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY 53 The last word

bbk issue 33

General correspondence External Relations, Mary Curnock Cook, Chief Executive of UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, Birkbeck, University of London, relishes becoming a Birkbeck Fellow and joining the flexible learning revolution Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX [email protected]

I am delighted to have become a Fellow it was more precious to me then, because intensive full-time courses - proving that Editorial of Birkbeck this year and to discover it was a purposeful and fully committed career development and study are not Guy Collender that, four years after London’s ‘evening decision. mutually exclusive - has soared beyond pp3, 8-9, 11, 14, 16-17, 20, 28-29, 37, 40-41, university’ joined UCAS’ undergraduate But it was only when I looked at what we might previously have thought 46, 48-49 admissions scheme, I am now part of an Birkbeck’s record-breaking UCAS of as its natural constituency. Bryony Merritt [email protected] ongoing revolution. acceptances over recent cycles that I Nearly 30% of new students this year pp6-7, 16-17, 23, 36, 41, 44, 45 I had long been an admirer of how knew something else must be going on were aged 18-20, and I know many Fiona MacLeod [email protected] Birkbeck opened the gateway to higher too. Something incredible has happened universities and colleges in the UCAS pp12-13, 18-19, 22, 24-25, 38-39, 42-43, education for those determined and at Birkbeck in recent years. scheme will be taking notice of the way 47, 50-51 motivated enough to combine degree While ‘part-time’ numbers were falling Birkbeck has communicated its vision to Dr Ben Winyard [email protected] p14 study with day-to-day life. The stories of across the higher education sector, students, backed up by a brilliantly co- Monica Law [email protected] mature students choosing Birkbeck were numbers on Birkbeck’s innovative ordinated offering. remarkably similar to my own; people full-time evening undergraduate Birkbeck’s portfolio of intensive, Design for whom higher education wasn’t right programmes grew by a staggering three-year evening undergraduate James Brown [email protected] or practical at 18, starting careers and 308% between the 2011-2012 and 2013- courses has been rapidly expanded to a David Robinson Infographics pp22 and 53 families, then realising it was now or 2014 cycles, according to acceptances total of 51 programmes available in the never. I went to university in my 40s and recorded by UCAS. The appeal of its academic year 2014-2015. Its full-time Alumni evening offer is an innovative model that 020 7380 3127 [email protected] opens access to higher education for the students around whose needs it Photography was designed. Cover image © David K Hardman It is such a privilege to be invited to Simon Jarratt pp6–7, 54 become a Birkbeck Fellow. I find myself Dominic Misfud pp4–5, 12 (Angelica Ronald), in distinguished company with many 13 (Sanjib Bhakta), 16 (David Eldridge), 24, others who, like me, are impassioned 25 (Frederic Dick), 37, 40 (Cansu Kucuk), 41, about access to the rich rewards of higher 42–43, 44 education for people who, for a variety of John Moore pp45,47 reasons, don’t fit the normal template of Geoff Wilson pp13 (Tricia King), 14, 18, 19, 40 school-A level-university. (Chris Parker, Emma Lawley) Walk around Birkbeck in the evening as the lights go on and you’ll see parents © Birkbeck, University of London 2015. taking control of their future alongside All rights reserved. Opinions expressed younger people determined to blend are those of individual writers/contributors. work with study. They’re all studying Requests for reproducing material should a subject they love, while juggling life’s be made to External Relations. necessary commitments. This fills me with optimism for the future of higher education.

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54 OUR COMMUNITY Keep informed and stay in touch

We hope you have enjoyed reading about our year in this edition of BBK. There are many ways that you can stay connected with us throughout 2015 and beyond. Attend our events www.bbk.ac.uk/events Discover our research www.bbk.ac.uk/research Listen to our podcasts www.bbk.ac.uk/birkbeckvoices bbk Read our blogs www.bbk.ac.uk/blogs

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